The countdown to the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline is almost over, and one name continues to dominate conversations around college basketball: Milan Momcilovic.
For weeks, the Iowa State star has been viewed as one of the biggest wild cards in the country. NBA teams love his shooting ability, college programs are preparing massive NIL offers behind the scenes, and fan bases everywhere are refreshing social media waiting for the final decision.
Now, according to multiple NBA-related reports and growing league buzz, there’s increasing belief that Momcilovic may ultimately withdraw from the draft and return to college basketball before midnight.
That possibility alone has Kentucky fans paying extremely close attention.
The talented forward is widely considered one of the best shooters in the sport after averaging 16.9 points per game while knocking down an incredible 48.7 percent from three last season. His combination of size, scoring, and perimeter shooting makes him one of the most valuable players still available anywhere in the portal-or-draft landscape.
And if he does return to college?
Kentucky is believed to be right in the middle of the battle.
Mark Pope and the Wildcats have stayed aggressive throughout the process, especially after missing out on other major targets earlier in the offseason. Insiders continue linking Kentucky alongside Louisville and St. John’s as the three schools most heavily involved if Momcilovic officially returns to the college level.
The reason many NBA observers expect a withdrawal comes down to one major factor: money.
Several reports suggest Momcilovic could command one of the biggest NIL deals in college basketball, especially with the possibility of an extra year of eligibility potentially available. Some estimates around the industry have pushed his market value into the multi-million-dollar range, creating a situation where returning to school may actually become the safer and smarter financial decision compared to fighting for a late first-round or early second-round NBA spot.
That doesn’t mean the draft option is completely dead.
Momcilovic has reportedly remained interested in hearing final NBA feedback all the way until the deadline, hoping a guaranteed deal or strong draft promise could still emerge late in the process. But as midnight approaches, the growing expectation around basketball circles is that college basketball may win this battle.
And if Kentucky somehow lands him afterward, the entire outlook for next season changes immediately.
The Wildcats already received huge news with Malachi Moreno returning to Lexington, stabilizing the frontcourt and removing a major offseason concern. But adding a player like Momcilovic would give Mark Pope exactly what the roster still needs: elite shooting, spacing, and another proven scorer capable of taking over games.
Many already believe Kentucky has a solid NCAA Tournament team.
Adding Milan Momcilovic could be the move that turns the Wildcats into a legitimate Final Four contender.
Now Big Blue Nation waits to see if the whispers becoming louder around the basketball world actually become reality before the clock strikes midnight.
