For the past two years, Mark Pope has talked nonstop about turning Kentucky into one of the most dangerous three-point shooting teams in America.
Now, that vision may come down to one player.
Milan Momcilovic.
After officially withdrawing from the NBA Draft before Wednesday night’s deadline, the former Iowa State star immediately became one of the hottest names in college basketball — and Kentucky fans instantly started paying attention.
Because the deeper people look at Kentucky’s current roster, the clearer one thing becomes:
The Wildcats may desperately need Momcilovic more than anyone originally realized.
And that’s where the massive twist begins.
During a recent fan Q&A on social media, Pope was asked directly whether Kentucky would finally reach its long-promised goal of attempting 30-plus three-pointers per game next season.
His response?
“Yes.”
Short. Direct. No hesitation.
But here’s the problem: Kentucky’s current roster doesn’t exactly scream “elite shooting team.”
That’s what has made Momcilovic’s recruitment feel completely different from a normal transfer battle.
This isn’t just about adding another talented scorer.
This could determine whether Pope’s entire offensive system finally works in Lexington.
At Iowa State last season, Momcilovic became arguably the best shooter in college basketball. The 6-foot-8 forward drilled an unbelievable 136 three-pointers while shooting 48.7% from deep — both marks led the NCAA.
Those numbers aren’t just impressive.
They’re transformational.
Kentucky simply does not currently have another player with that level of proven perimeter production.
Several Wildcats have potential. Kam Williams flashed shooting ability before injuries slowed him down. Braydon Hawthorne has reportedly impressed coaches behind the scenes. Alex Wilkins and Justin McBride have shown moments as shooters in smaller roles.
But none of them have demonstrated what Momcilovic already has at the highest level.
And Pope knows it.
Ever since leaving BYU for Kentucky, Pope has tried to recreate the offensive identity that made his teams so dangerous in Provo. His final BYU squad averaged 32 three-point attempts per game — the most among major conference teams.
That style still hasn’t fully appeared at Kentucky.
The Wildcats averaged just 25.3 threes in Pope’s first season and even fewer last year. Injuries played a huge role, with key guards and perimeter creators constantly missing time, but roster construction has also become impossible to ignore.
Kentucky simply hasn’t had enough elite shooters to fully unlock Pope’s offense.
Momcilovic changes that instantly.
And the most interesting part?
He seems to understand exactly what Kentucky is missing.
While speaking at the NBA Combine earlier this month, Momcilovic openly praised Pope’s offensive system and hinted that Kentucky’s current roster may not have fully fit what the coach wants to run.
“He didn’t have enough shooters around him to really coach the way he wanted,” Momcilovic said.
That quote immediately exploded among Kentucky fans online.
Because many started wondering the same thing:
Does Momcilovic already see himself as the player who could fix everything?
That’s why this decision suddenly feels enormous.
Louisville and St. John’s remain serious contenders in his recruitment, and both programs already appear loaded heading into next season. Kentucky, meanwhile, has largely stayed outside early preseason Top 25 conversations.
But landing Momcilovic could completely change the narrative overnight.
The Wildcats would suddenly have one of the nation’s best shooters, a perfect fit for Pope’s spacing-heavy system, and a legitimate reason for fans to believe the offense is finally about to explode.
Without him?
Questions remain everywhere.
Can Kentucky consistently shoot enough threes?
Will the current roster provide enough spacing?
Can Pope truly run the offense he envisioned when he took the job?
That’s the massive twist hanging over this entire recruitment.
This isn’t just about adding talent anymore.
It’s about whether Mark Pope’s long-promised vision for Kentucky basketball can finally become reality.
