Kentucky basketball is pushing aggressively towards building a solid roster. And Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic has just given Wildcats fans even more reason for staying positive.
While speaking during the NBA Draft Combine process in Chicago, he opened up about what he is looking for if he decides to withdraw from the draft and return to college basketball. Kentucky remains in the mix alongside Louisville and St. John’s.
“I think Kentucky would be a good fit,” Momcilovic said. “I loved how his team played.”
That statement alone gave the program a hope that they might get him to play this season.
Milan Momcilovic Opens Up About Kentucky Fit
The 6-foot-8 player made it clear that his top priority remains the NBA Draft. However, he also admitted that if he returns to college, roster fit and development will matter far more than NIL money.
“I’m not gonna go money hunt for like the top school that offers me the most money, I just need a good spot where I can go,” he said.
For Kentucky, this is really great news.
Last season, Mark Pope faced a lot of criticism for the roster he built. And Momcilovic could instantly solve that issue. The former Iowa State standout averaged 16.9 points per game while shooting 48.7 percent from three-point range in the last season.
He also has firsthand experience playing against Pope-coached teams. He faced Pope twice when the current Kentucky coach was still at BYU and once again in Iowa State’s NCAA Tournament victory over Kentucky last season.
That familiarity appears to have left a strong impression.
“And obviously, Kentucky last year, he didn’t have enough shooters around him to really coach, I feel like, the way he wanted. But I think — if I were to choose Kentucky — that would be a good fit for me. I feel like I’d be a great player for him, and he’d be a good coach for me.”
Those comments gave hope that Kentucky could still make a serious late push despite reports linking him to Louisville and St. John’s.
According to reports from the combine, many insiders view Louisville as the current favorite if Momcilovic withdraws from the draft. Jeff Goodman recently stated that Louisville and St. John’s appear to be the “frontrunners,” with Kentucky still trying to close the gap.
Still, Pope’s presence during the draft process could prove important. The Kentucky coach was reportedly supporting players such as Malachi Moreno, Otega Oweh, and Jayden Quaintance while continuing to recruit behind the scenes.
If Momcilovic decides to return to college basketball, he may land directly in Kentucky.
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