Milan Momcilovic, the nation’s top‑ranked power forward in the NCAA transfer portal, announced that he is pulling his name out of the NBA Draft and will head back to college for the 2027 season. The 6‑foot‑8, 225‑pound forward, who led the country with a 48.7 percent three‑point shooting clip, had been projected as an early second‑round pick after a standout year at Iowa State, where he averaged 16.9 points and 3.1 rebounds while ranking fifth nationally in three‑pointers made.
Momcilovic’s decision follows a memorable showdown in the NCAA Tournament last year, when he scored 20 points on four made three‑pointers against Kentucky, a performance that only intensified the conversation about his professional future.
A Strategic Pivot
According to sources close to the player, Momcilovic has been in frequent contact with Kentucky head coach Mark Pope, who is eager to add the sharpshooter to a roster that is already shaping up as a contender for the next championship cycle.
Pope’s outreach reflects a broader trend of elite prospects leveraging the portal to fine‑tune their development, and the coach’s willingness to engage directly underscores the program’s ambition to bolster its perimeter firepower.
The move also reverberates through the college basketball landscape, as the transfer market continues to reshape traditional timelines and offers players like Momcilovic a unique pathway to maximize both exposure and earnings potential before entering the professional ranks.
For Momcilovic, returning to campus is not just about refining his shot; it is a calculated step toward a more polished draft profile, better networking with NBA scouts, and the chance to lead a program back to the pinnacle.