NBA scouts came to Rupp Arena expecting to evaluate Kentucky’s most obvious professional prospects.
Instead, they may have left with another name worth keeping an eye on.
Tuesday night’s Kentucky basketball Pro Day provided an early glimpse at what Mark Pope’s third Wildcats team could look like, and while players such as Malachi Moreno and Milan Momcilovic remain important pieces of the program’s NBA outlook, Alex Wilkins continued to make a compelling case that he could become one of Kentucky’s biggest surprises.
The 6-foot-6 guard was already turning heads at Big Blue Madness, where he easily won the 3-point competition.
He followed that performance with another impressive shooting display at Pro Day.
And that may only be the beginning.
Wilkins keeps showing why he could be special
There was no shortage of long-range shooting at Pro Day, but Wilkins consistently stood out.
The Furman transfer showed tremendous confidence from beyond the arc, including knocking down deep shots from well behind the 3-point line.
His ability to shoot from distance immediately gives Kentucky another weapon in an offense that Mark Pope desperately wants to turn into one of the nation’s most aggressive 3-point attacks.
But Wilkins isn’t simply a catch-and-shoot specialist.
He has the ability to put the ball on the floor, change speeds and attack defenders, giving him another dimension that could make him particularly difficult to guard.
That combination of shooting and creativity is what makes his potential so intriguing.
There will obviously be an adjustment period coming from Furman to Kentucky, and Wilkins will face considerably more defensive attention than he did a season ago.
Still, his skill set gives Pope plenty to work with.
Kentucky finally has the shooters Pope wanted
One of the biggest themes coming out of Pro Day was Kentucky’s willingness to shoot.
Pope has spent his first two seasons emphasizing the importance of 3-point volume, but his teams haven’t approached his preferred target of 35 attempts per game.
That could change this season.
Kentucky has shooters at virtually every position.
Momcilovic demonstrated his elite shooting ability repeatedly, including a quick-release corner 3 and a deep shot at the end of a scrimmage.
Wilkins was equally aggressive.
Freshman Mason Williams also showed no hesitation about pulling from deep, while Ousmane N’Diaye and Justin McBride demonstrated that Kentucky’s bigger players are willing to stretch the floor as well.
That kind of shooting depth could create significantly more space for Moreno, Diallo and Kentucky’s attacking guards.
And if the Wildcats actually begin approaching Pope’s desired 3-point volume, this offense could look dramatically different from the previous two seasons.
The power forward spot is still a major question
For all the excitement surrounding Kentucky’s shooting, Pro Day also highlighted one unresolved issue.
The power-forward position remains unsettled.
Pope attempted to address that position during the offseason, pursuing Michigan State transfer Jaxon Kohler before bringing in Mark Mitchell from Missouri.
But Mitchell ultimately returned to Missouri after the SEC challenged the circumstances surrounding his additional season of eligibility.
That left Kentucky without the proven veteran addition Pope originally wanted.
N’Diaye possesses intriguing upside and showed his willingness to shoot from deep, but his consistency remains a question.
McBride offers physicality and size and could provide the toughness Kentucky needs inside, but he also hasn’t clearly separated himself from the competition.
That battle could continue well into the preseason.
Moreno and Momcilovic remain Kentucky’s NBA headliners
While Wilkins may be the potential breakout name, Kentucky’s established NBA prospects remain central to the team’s outlook.
Moreno’s size, skill and interior presence make him one of the Wildcats’ most intriguing young players.
Momcilovic brings something completely different.
The Iowa State transfer was the nation’s leading 3-point shooter last season, and his ability to stretch defenses could make him one of the most important players in Pope’s system.
Neither player is currently viewed as a guaranteed first-round selection in early 2027 projections, meaning both have plenty of room to improve their draft stock throughout the season.
That’s another reason Pro Day mattered.
NBA scouts weren’t simply watching Kentucky’s current prospects.
They were looking for players who could emerge over the next several months.
Wilkins could be the name nobody expected
This is where Wilkins becomes especially interesting.
Kentucky doesn’t need him to become the next NBA superstar overnight.
It needs him to become a reliable creator, knock down open shots, take care of the basketball and give defenses another player they can’t afford to ignore.
If he can do that, his role could grow quickly.
Pope has already indicated that Wilkins will receive opportunities at both point guard and combo guard, with Kentucky experimenting with a two-lead-guard approach.
That versatility could be extremely valuable.
It also gives Wilkins more chances to have the ball in his hands.
The biggest question is whether he can reduce the turnovers that followed him at Furman, where he averaged 3.8 giveaways per game.
If he cleans that up while maintaining his shooting and attacking ability, Kentucky could have a legitimate breakout candidate on its hands.
The real answers are coming soon
Pro Day is only a snapshot.
Kentucky hasn’t played a real game yet, and the Wildcats still have plenty of questions to answer before the regular season begins.
But the early signs are intriguing.
The shooting is real.
The roster has more offensive versatility.
The power-forward battle remains unsettled.
And Alex Wilkins continues to look like a player capable of changing the equation.
NBA scouts may have arrived at Rupp Arena focused on Kentucky’s established prospects.
They may have left with Wilkins written down on their notes, too.
If Tuesday night was any indication, Kentucky’s potential breakout star may already be starting to reveal himself.
