The Arizona Wildcats never had him, but perhaps feel they lost a big player on Monday, June 1, when Iowa State star Milan Momcilovic committed to coach Mark Pope and the University of Kentucky Wildcats, according to multiple reports.
Momcilovic, 6 feet 8, had Arizona and Louisville, along with Kentucky, on a very short list.
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He was seen as the best 3-point shooter in the college game last season, and, with Arizona star freshman Koa Peat officially leaving for the NBA draft, was seen as an integral piece of coach Tommy Lloyd’s reloading.
Arizona made a strong run that ended in the Final Four.
Momcilovic could play two more years if certain guidelines are met.
Kentucky (22-14, 10-8 in the SEC last season) lost to Momcilovic and Iowa State by 19 points in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Arizona basketball had hoped to land Momcilovic
(The following story ran on azcentral.com May 26.)
The Arizona men’s basketball team is looking to build on the momentum of a Final Four finish last season. But head coach Tommy Lloyd still isn’t quite sure what his roster will look like come the fall.
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If the Wildcats lose Koa Peat to the NBA, they could look into landing a highly touted athlete from a rival school, Iowa State junior Milan Momcilovic.
Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov are returning, and the Wildcats will have one of the country’s top freshmen in Caleb Holt, but there are question marks.
Both freshman phenoms Brayden Burries and Peat declared for the NBA draft, and there was some hope that Peat, the talented product out of Perry High, might actually return to Tucson after his showing at the NBA combine underwhelmed.
Underclassmen have until 8:59 p.m. MST on Wednesday, May 27, to withdraw from the draft.
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College basketball insider Jeff Goodman of Field of 68 has indicated that Arizona could enter the bidding for Momcilovic, a 6-foot-8, 225-pounder who led the country with 136 made 3-pointers. His percentage of 48.7% also led all players.
Goodman singles out Kentucky, Louisville and St. John’s as other top contenders for his services.
Momcilovich, who averaged 16.9 points in leading Iowa State to a 29-8 record and a berth in the Sweet 16, entered the transfer portal and also declared for the draft, but could be leaning toward returning to college. He is pegged as an early- to mid-second-round pick in the draft, scheduled for June 23-24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Iowa State star Momcilovic goes with Kentucky over Arizona
