Earlier this month, the Kentucky Wildcats received good news when center Malachi Moreno announced he would be returning to Lexington for a sophomore season. In addition, Mark Pope has been very active in recruiting Milan Momcilovic in the event that he pulled his name out of the NBA draft. At Wednesday’s deadline, he did just that, and now the waiting game begins.
Unlike many of the other players who exited the draft, Momcilovic didn’t immediately announce where he would be playing next year. Kentucky is certainly in the mix, but they’re not alone. Multiple other teams have been in contact.
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Momcilovic would be a huge addition for a Kentucky team in need of star power and three-point shooting. He instantly makes them better, but can Pope cross the finish line? Here’s a look at the teams in contention for Momcilovic, who may not make a decision until this weekend.
The Wildcats would be a terrific fit for Momcilovic, and he would certainly get a chance to be a star and boost his draft stock for next year. He’s exactly what Pope is looking for, and they have the money to spend. The big question is whether or not Mark Pope can close the deal, something he has struggled with.
Louisville has already spent big this offseason, but apparently are still looking to add on. They are already championship contenders, but Momcilovic makes them even stronger. The issue is with having too many players who want the ball already, including Alvaro Folgueiras, who is a similar player.
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Former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino has also been in the race for Momcilovic. They did add Tounde Yessoufou when he pulled out of the draft on Wednesday, so that could change their approach, but that’s still unknown at this time.
Could Momcilovic head back to the school he played for previously? There’s still some hope there. However, he entered the transfer portal for a reason, so it would likely take a big influx of NIL money for them to compete with the other schools.
They entered the mix late, but there could be some appeal after their deep run in the postseason. Koa Peat decided to remain in the draft, so they certainly could use a talented forward as well despite their late entry into his recruitment.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky basketball target Milan Momcilovic pulls out of NBA draft
