Kentucky fans have spent plenty of time admiring Milan Momcilovic’s smooth shooting stroke, but few know about the unusual mental trick that helped transform him into one of the most dangerous shooters in college basketball.
Every athlete has a superstition or routine. Baseball players avoid stepping on foul lines. Some athletes refuse to wash lucky gear during a winning streak. Others follow the exact same pregame routine every single time.
Momcilovic’s superstition, however, might be one of the most unique in sports.
Before taking a shot, the Kentucky forward often says one simple word in his mind:
“Jellybean.”
It may sound strange, but that one word became a major part of his development into an elite marksman.
During his freshman season at Iowa State, Momcilovic was already a talented shooter. He connected on 61 three-pointers and shot 35.9% from beyond the arc. Those numbers were solid, but he knew there was another level he could reach.
That’s when sports psychologist Dr. Matthew Myrvik, who previously worked with the Milwaukee Bucks, stepped in to help.
After numerous conversations and Zoom meetings, Myrvik introduced a simple mental exercise designed to eliminate distractions and negative thoughts that can creep into a shooter’s mind.
The idea was straightforward: choose a food item and think about it before shooting.
Momcilovic landed on the word “jellybean.”
Interestingly, it wasn’t even his favorite candy.
Speaking to The Athletic, Momcilovic admitted he doesn’t really know why he chose the word.
“Maybe because it’s a longer word. It’s not even my favorite candy,” he explained.
The purpose wasn’t the candy itself. The goal was to clear his mind.
Instead of worrying about mechanics, previous misses, defensive pressure, or game situations, the word forces his brain to focus on something completely unrelated to basketball. That allows his muscle memory to take over naturally.
The results were remarkable.
Momcilovic’s shooting percentage improved during his sophomore season, and by his junior year he delivered one of the greatest shooting performances college basketball has seen in recent memory.
He knocked down an incredible 136 three-pointers while shooting 48.7% from deep, numbers that placed him among the nation’s most efficient and feared shooters.
Whether defenders are flying at him on the perimeter or he’s launching a difficult shot as the shot clock expires, the routine remains the same.
Jellybean.
That simple mental cue became a weapon.
Now, Kentucky fans are hoping that same confidence and accuracy travel with him to Lexington.
Mark Pope’s offense thrives on floor spacing, ball movement, and elite perimeter shooting. Momcilovic’s ability to stretch defenses could make him one of the most impactful additions to the Wildcats’ roster heading into the 2026-27 season.
What began as an unusual mental exercise has evolved into a routine that helped shape one of college basketball’s premier shooters.
And if the “jellybean” method continues to work in a Kentucky uniform, Wildcats fans may never look at a bag of candy the same way again.
