Kentucky fans may have just received the update they were hoping for.
With the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline quickly approaching on May 27, the spotlight remains firmly on Malachi Moreno and Iowa State transfer target Milan Momcilovic. Both players are currently testing the NBA waters, but according to a new poll of NBA executives, the overwhelming belief is that both should return to college basketball for another season.
Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 surveyed ten NBA executives about several draft hopefuls and asked a simple question: stay in the draft or go back to school?
For Kentucky fans, the results were hard to ignore.
NBA Executives Believe Moreno Should Return to Kentucky
Malachi Moreno continues to gain attention around the league after an impressive freshman season and strong pre-draft process. The 7-footer has seen his stock rise in recent mock drafts, with ESPN placing him at No. 36 overall while CBS Sports recently pushed him into the first round at No. 30.
Other outlets are even higher on him, with Yahoo! Sports listing him at No. 23 and Heavy.com projecting him at No. 24.
Still, despite the growing buzz, NBA executives largely agree that another season at Kentucky could be the smarter long-term move.
Out of ten executives surveyed, nine believe Moreno should withdraw from the draft and return to college, while only one thinks he should remain in the draft and turn professional now.
The reasoning is simple: Moreno could make more money through NIL at Kentucky next season while positioning himself for a significantly stronger draft status in 2027. With next year’s draft class expected to be weaker, a dominant sophomore season under Mark Pope could push Moreno into lottery-pick territory.
Of course, all it takes is one NBA team to fall in love with his upside. But for now, the odds appear to favor a return to Lexington.
Milan Momcilovic Receives Unanimous Advice
Kentucky target Milan Momcilovic received even clearer feedback.
According to Goodman’s poll, all ten NBA executives agreed that Momcilovic should return to college basketball instead of entering the NBA Draft this year.
The sharpshooting forward remains one of the most intriguing names in the transfer portal, and Kentucky continues to be heavily linked to him. His ability to stretch the floor and score from deep makes him an ideal fit in Mark Pope’s offensive system.
Executives reportedly believe another season in college — combined with a major NIL opportunity — would help Momcilovic improve his draft stock considerably before making the jump to the NBA.
For Big Blue Nation, that’s exactly the kind of news fans wanted to hear.
Kentucky Could Benefit in a Massive Way
If Moreno withdraws from the draft and Momcilovic ultimately lands in Lexington, Kentucky’s roster outlook changes dramatically.
Moreno would provide the Wildcats with elite size, rim protection, and interior presence, while Momcilovic would add one of the top shooting threats in college basketball.
Together, they could give Mark Pope one of the most balanced rosters in the country heading into next season.
With the deadline only days away, Kentucky fans are now waiting to see whether the optimism from NBA circles turns into reality.
