The Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball continue to stay active in the transfer portal after their disappointing second-round exit in the NCAA Tournament against the Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball. Head coach Mark Pope has already made several important additions this offseason as he works to reshape the roster for the upcoming campaign. Kentucky currently holds one of the stronger transfer classes in the SEC, with five incoming commitments already secured.
Among those additions, the most notable commitment so far has been former Washington Huskies men’s basketball center Franck Kepnang, a highly regarded four-star prospect expected to strengthen Kentucky’s frontcourt. Still, the Wildcats appear far from finished in the portal. The coaching staff is reportedly targeting an even bigger addition in former Iowa State standout Milan Momcilovic.
Momcilovic recently entered the transfer portal while also declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft, leaving his future undecided. He has until May 27 to officially withdraw from the draft and retain his college eligibility. Kentucky has emerged as one of the programs making a strong push to land the talented forward if he decides to return to college basketball. Reports indicate that the Wildcats have already held discussions with him, including a Zoom meeting involving the coaching staff.
The former Cyclones star is considered one of the most sought-after players currently available. Recruiting analysts have placed him near the very top of this year’s transfer rankings. According to 247Sports, Momcilovic is rated as a five-star transfer prospect, the No. 1 power forward available, and the second-best overall player in the portal this offseason. His combination of scoring ability, size, and shooting efficiency has made him one of the hottest names in college basketball.
However, bringing in a player of his caliber could require a massive financial commitment. College basketball insider Isaac Trotter recently suggested that Momcilovic could command a NIL package worth around $6 million if he chooses to play another season in college. Trotter even hinted that Kentucky might need to exceed that figure to complete the deal.
That projected amount is significantly higher than Momcilovic’s current NIL valuation from On3, which already estimates his market value at approximately $2 million. Even with that lower figure, he still ranks among the highest-valued players in college basketball.
The reason for such enormous interest is easy to understand when looking at his production last season. Momcilovic played in all 37 games for Iowa State and became one of the team’s most reliable offensive weapons. He averaged 16.9 points per game while adding 3.1 rebounds and one assist per contest. His shooting percentages were especially impressive, connecting on 50.6 percent of his field-goal attempts and an outstanding 48.7 percent from three-point range.
As the deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft approaches, Kentucky continues to wait for a final decision. The Wildcats clearly view Momcilovic as a player capable of transforming the roster into a serious national contender. Still, the program must also decide whether investing nearly $6 million in a single transfer is the right move for the future of the team.
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