We have officially entered May, and Mark Pope’s third-season roster looks mostly set but mostly is the crucial word. Kentucky still has millions in unspent NIL money and a clear gap at center, a spot Tyran Stokes was expected to fill.
I won’t rehash that saga Big Blue Nation is surely exhausted by it but the fact remains: Pope and Kentucky need a dynamic, star-caliber playmaker. Rest assured, the coaching staff is actively searching.
However, that search can’t drag on forever. Waiting nearly a year for Stokes left Kentucky with far fewer options than if Pope had moved on when Kansas began pulling ahead. Now that Milan Momcilovic appears to be Kentucky’s top transfer portal target, the Wildcats can’t afford to repeat the same mistake.
Repeating a Costly Mistake
Look, I want Momcilovic as much as any Cats fan craving elite long-range scoring. The Iowa State sharpshooter hit an incredible 48.7% from three this past season and, as we painfully remember, torched Kentucky for 20 points in the Wildcats’ second-round NCAA Tournament loss.
If he entered the portal right now, Coach Pope should throw every resource at him. But Momcilovic is heading to the NBA Draft Combine and could go the entire month without making a decision.
No matter how well he fits Pope’s system or how much he’d elevate Kentucky’s ceiling, the Wildcats simply cannot afford to wait around again.
Gambling on a Shrinking Pool
If the standout forward is committed to exploring the NBA process fully, Pope would be wise to pivot to other viable options for Kentucky. Otherwise, he risks facing an extremely thin market if Momcilovic doesn’t end up in Lexington.
Consider trending reclass candidate and five-star forward Ryan Hampton, or former Cat and popular portal commodity Jordan Burks, as two compelling alternatives who currently seem more likely than Momcilovic.
The dream scenario isn’t always the right one. Kentucky needs players now, and Coach Pope should pursue that need while he still has a reasonable choice among what remains.
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