Kentucky’s Biggest Recruiting Battle Just Took A Dramatic Turn… And Fans Think They Know What’s Coming Next

Several stars chose to return to college, others jumped to the NBA, and one name in particular has Kentucky fans watching every update like it’s breaking news.

And yes… Milan Momcilovic remains the story everyone is waiting on.
Here’s a full recap of the biggest decisions that directly impact Mark Pope and the Wildcats moving forward.
Alabama Gets Huge Surprise With Amari Allen Return
Many around college basketball expected Amari Allen to remain in the NBA Draft after a breakout freshman season at Alabama. Instead, the versatile 6-foot-8 forward shocked people by returning to Tuscaloosa.

Allen became one of Nate Oats’ most important players last season because of the energy and toughness he brought every night. He wasn’t just another shooter — he rebounded, defended, made hustle plays, and still stretched the floor offensively.

His return is enormous for Alabama, especially with uncertainty surrounding parts of the Crimson Tide roster. It also means Kentucky’s path through the SEC just became even tougher.
Mark Pope is still searching for his first win over Nate Oats, and bringing Allen back gives Alabama another legitimate chance to finish near the top of the conference standings.
Vanderbilt Brings Back Tyler Tanner — And Kentucky Fans Know The Danger
Kentucky fans probably aren’t thrilled to hear Tyler Tanner is returning to Vanderbilt.

The explosive guard torched SEC defenses last season and became one of the league’s most dangerous scorers, averaging nearly 20 points per game while earning First-Team All-SEC honors.

Despite his production, NBA scouts reportedly had concerns about his size, which helped push him back to college for another season.
That’s bad news for Kentucky.
Tanner scored 19 points in BOTH matchups against the Wildcats last year, and his return guarantees Vanderbilt remains a dangerous team capable of upsetting anyone in the conference.

Billy Richmond’s Wild Arkansas Decision Had Everyone Confused
Few decisions around the deadline were stranger than Billy Richmond’s.
At first, reports surfaced saying Richmond would stay in the NBA Draft. Then less than half an hour later, another update revealed he was actually returning to Arkansas.
Yes… seriously.
Despite the confusion, John Calipari ultimately gets back one of his most energetic and athletic players. Richmond’s ability to defend, attack the rim, and create momentum-changing plays makes him incredibly valuable for the Razorbacks.

His return helps keep Arkansas inside the preseason Top 25 conversation and gives Calipari another weapon in what could become a heated SEC race with Kentucky.

Arkansas Also Suffers Massive Loss With Meleek Thomas Leaving
While Arkansas celebrated Richmond’s return, they also took a major hit.
Former 5-star guard Meleek Thomas officially stayed in the NBA Draft after showing serious flashes of star potential during his freshman season.
Thomas averaged over 15 points per game and developed into one of the most dangerous young scorers in the SEC late in the year. Most projections now expect him to become a first-round draft pick.

Had Thomas returned, Arkansas might’ve entered the season as one of the SEC favorites.
Without him? The Razorbacks suddenly look far more vulnerable.
North Carolina Avoids Disaster With Matt Able
North Carolina also received huge news when transfer guard Matt Able decided to return to college basketball instead of remaining in the draft.
After transferring from NC State to UNC, there was growing concern that Able could stay professional and leave Michael Malone scrambling to rebuild the roster late.

Instead, the talented scorer is heading to Chapel Hill.
That matters for Kentucky because the Wildcats are scheduled to face North Carolina at Madison Square Garden on December 19 in one of the season’s biggest nonconference games.
Arizona’s Loss Could Become Kentucky’s Biggest Gain
One of the most interesting developments involves Arizona star Koa Peat.

The talented forward officially stayed in the NBA Draft, leaving Arizona with extra NIL money and suddenly creating urgency for Tommy Lloyd to land another star.

And who immediately became a major target?
Milan Momcilovic.
Reports indicate Arizona is aggressively trying to make up ground in the race for the Iowa State transfer, meaning Kentucky suddenly faces even more competition.

Still, there may be one very important silver lining for the Wildcats…
St. John’s Landing Tounde Yessoufou Is HUGE For Kentucky
Perhaps the biggest shock of the deadline came when Tounde Yessoufou withdrew from the draft and committed to Rick Pitino’s St. John’s program.
For weeks, most people believed Yessoufou would stay in the NBA Draft. Others thought UCLA would land him if he returned to school.
Instead, he’s headed to New York.
And oddly enough, this could be GREAT news for Kentucky.
Why?
Because St. John’s was viewed by many insiders as one of the biggest threats to steal Milan Momcilovic away from the Wildcats.

Now that Pitino landed Yessoufou, the Red Storm appear out of the Momcilovic sweepstakes entirely.
That leaves Kentucky, Louisville, and Arizona battling for arguably the most valuable remaining player in college basketball.

Milan Momcilovic Could Change EVERYTHING For Kentucky
And now we arrive at the decision Kentucky fans care about most.
Milan Momcilovic officially withdrew from the NBA Draft, meaning the elite shooter will return to college basketball next season.

The only question now is where.
Kentucky has emerged as one of the strongest contenders alongside Louisville and Arizona, with multiple national analysts already predicting the Wildcats to land him.

The numbers speak for themselves:
16.9 points per game
50.6% from the field
48.7% from three-point range
87.8% from the free-throw line
At 6-foot-8, Momcilovic is widely considered one of the best pure shooters in the country.
And his fit inside Mark Pope’s offense feels almost perfect.

Kentucky’s staff is reportedly using Koby Brea’s development as part of the recruiting pitch — showing Momcilovic how Pope helped transform one of college basketball’s best shooters into an NBA Draft pick.

If Kentucky lands him, expectations for next season instantly change.
This roster suddenly goes from “Sweet 16 hopeful” to potentially something MUCH bigger.

CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander even stated Thursday morning that his prediction is Momcilovic ultimately chooses Kentucky.
On3 insiders Joe Tipton and Pete Nakos also believe the Wildcats have emerged as the current leader.