The Kentucky Wildcats continue to stay aggressive in the transfer portal following their NCAA Tournament loss to Iowa State, and now one of the biggest names in college basketball could be on Mark Pope’s radar.
Kentucky has already secured five transfer commitments this offseason, including former Washington center Franck Kepnang, who currently headlines the Wildcats’ portal additions. But the program may still be aiming for an even bigger move with former Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic.
Momcilovic entered the 2026 NBA Draft but still has until May 27 to withdraw and return to college basketball. Kentucky has reportedly been heavily involved in the recruitment process, including a Zoom meeting with the talented forward, according to On3’s Jacob Polacheck.
The former Cyclones standout is widely viewed as one of the top available players in the transfer portal. 247Sports ranks him as a five-star transfer, the No. 1 power forward, and the No. 2 overall portal player this offseason.
However, landing Momcilovic may require a massive financial commitment.
247Sports analyst Isaac Trotter recently reported that the forward could command close to $6 million in NIL opportunities if he decides to return to college basketball next season.
“I think the number for me is closer to $6 million at Kentucky or maybe even higher than that,” Trotter said. “It’s just hard to leave $6 million on the table.”
The reported figure would significantly exceed Momcilovic’s current On3 NIL valuation of $2 million, which already ranks among the highest valuations in college basketball.
His production on the court explains why his value continues to rise.
Last season at Iowa State, Momcilovic appeared in all 37 games and averaged 16.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and one assist per game. He also shot an impressive 50.6% from the field and 48.7% from beyond the three-point line, making him one of the most efficient scorers in the country.
With the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline less than a week away, Kentucky’s pursuit of Momcilovic could soon reach a major turning point.
If Mark Pope and the Wildcats can pull it off, it would easily become one of the biggest transfer portal additions of the entire offseason.
