Kentucky basketball head coach Mark Pope has faced plenty of scrutiny regarding recruiting and roster building, particularly when it comes to securing elite high school talent and landing premier players from the transfer portal.
Lately, however, Pope has started to quiet some of those concerns. Fresh off adding one of the top prospects in the 2027 recruiting class, he also secured a major portal commitment in former Iowa State standout Milan Momcilovic.
The sharpshooting forward was widely viewed as one of the premier players available in the transfer portal, with many considering him the top overall transfer on the market.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf unveiled their rankings of the biggest winners of the 2026 transfer portal cycle. Borzello placed Kentucky at No. 1 and identified Momcilovic as the Wildcats’ most impactful addition.
“Momcilovic was the top-ranked player in my transfer rankings, the best shooter in college basketball and a proven all-conference performer at the high-major level. There aren’t any questions about how his offensive game will translate. He has 6-foot-8 size, and he led the country in 3-point shooting percentage (48.7) and was tied for third nationally in 3s made (3.7 per game).
“Mark Pope’s best offenses as a college coach have been predicated on being effective from behind the arc at a high volume; that will fit Momcilovic. Incoming transfer point guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins are adept at attacking defenses off the bounce, which should allow Momcilovic to get plenty of open looks from 3. Momcilovic gives Kentucky a focal point on the offensive end, with his commitment vaulting Kentucky into the top 20 of ESPN’s latest Way-Too-Early Top 25.”
With Momcilovic now in the fold, Kentucky enters next season in a far stronger position offensively. The Wildcats already appear to have a centerpiece for their attack, and the coaching staff has wasted little time getting the new roster together as it begins building chemistry during offseason workouts.