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Men's Basketball

Early Prediction of Who is Staying and Leaving

Published

6 years ago

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The 2019-2020 college basketball season came to an abrupt end yesterday. No conference tournaments and no NCAA Tournament, something that hit us Kentucky fans very hard. After that, just about every other major sport announced that its events would be cancelled or postponed, basically putting sports on a halt until mid-April.

As I Tweeted yesterday, this was undoubtedly one of the most weird and wide-open college basketball seasons in recent memory. Now, we will never know how it would’ve ended. The worst thing is we won’t see another college game played for another eight months.

Even though I hate the circumstances and wish things were different, I agree 100% with these decisions.

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Now, we get to do something we usually don’t do for another month or so. Think about who stays and who leaves for the NBA.

While I would think Kentucky has a good chance to get most of the roster back, I always lean toward guys leaving, because you know, this is Kentucky.

Here are my predictions for who stays and leaves.

Stays

Ashton Hagans: Kentucky’s point guard this year was all over the place and didn’t end the season well. We all know what happened, and he’s lucky the Cats came back to beat Florida, otherwise my feelings about him would be totally different. I hate the fact that he didn’t get a chance to redeem himself in Nashville, but it might be for the best. He also commented on Nick Richards Instagram post yesterday, saying, “Love you brudda, we will miss you.”

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He has a chance to redeem himself next year and I think he will take it.

Immanuel Quickley: No one knows right now and I have the feeling no one will know until he decides. Quickley is very religious and his father wants him to finish college. The SEC POY will come back and lead the Cats in a big for their ninth national title.

E.J. Montgomery: We all thought Montgomery was going to have a breakout year. Instead it was Nick Richards. Montgomery was a disappointment this year, and according to what Calipari said, may have not been in shape until January. He had the winning tip in against Florida and will come back next year and repeat what Nick Richards did this year.

Keion Brooks: After having a somewhat disappointing freshman year, Brooks shined in Gainesville and was a big piece to the Cats’ comeback in Gainesville, showing his skills, and what he will do next year.

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Johnny Juzang: Unless he transfers, and I don’t know why he would, Juzang will be back for his sophomore year.

Leaving

Nick Richards: No one thought Nick Richards would have the season he had. Richards averaged 14 PPG, 8 RPG, and 2 BPG. Drastic improvements compared to last year. I thought we would get Richards for four years and we sadly won’t. I want him to do well so bad in the NBA. After what he’s done here, he deserves it.

Tyrese Maxey: The only one-and-done this year for Kentucky? Maxey was probably Kentucky’s best player this year and is projected in the top ten of most NBA Mock Drafts. He gone.

Summary

It won’t play out this way, but if it does, Kentucky will get five players back and only lose two. And, they will probably be the favorites to win the national title next year with the recruiting class they have coming in.

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This team was one of my favorites. From losing to Evansville at home as the No. 1 team in the country to winning the SEC Regular Season title. They improved so much. Even though they didn’t get a chance to make a run in March, which they would’ve done, I still love this team and will miss them.

Go Cats.

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Men's Basketball

Star Forward Milan Momcilovic Chooses Kentucky Over Louisville and Arizona

Published

1 day ago

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June 1, 2026

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Photo via AOL

The wait is over BBN!

Milan Momcilovic has officially announced that he will be playing his senior year of college basketball at Kentucky, suiting up in the blue and white for Mark Pope and the Wildcats!

The 6-foot-8 wing averaged 16.9 points per game in the 2025-26 season, leading the nation in 3-pointers made (136) and percentage from deep (48.7%).

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Momcilovic is mostly ranked as No. 2 in most portal rankings, but ESPN has the former Cyclone as the No. 1 overall player. With that being said, this technically serves as Pope’s first No. 1 transfer during his tenure at Kentucky.

Pulling his name out of the 2026 NBA Draft on Wednesday, May 27, Kentucky was seemingly the favorite to land the wing during the entire sweepstakes due to positional need, scheme fit and money available to spend. He could even play another year with the Kentucky Wildcats if the “5-in-5” rule is passed and he forgoes the draft again.

Putting Pat Kelsey in a locker and outbidding him on a recruit is always great for morale, but this fills the much-needed star spot for next year’s roster. Pope and his staff have shaped the team with plenty of skilled players, but Momcilovic adds that extra layer of shooting and will serve as the go-to guy when a game may be on the line.

This will be the final player added to the 2026-27 team, with an insert at the starting small forward position in Momcilovic’s future. Pope and the Big Blue Nation have their guy, and soon enough, we’ll see the Pewaukee, Wisconsin native on Rupp Arena’s court.

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Men's Basketball

National Reporter Matt Norlander Chooses Kentucky as Landing Spot for Star Forward Milan Momcilovic

Published

6 days ago

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May 28, 2026

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Photo via Imagn Images

The Milan Momcilovic sweepstakes is underway, with multiple teams involved in the No. 2 overall transfer player’s recruitment. It is believed that Kentucky and Louisville are the top candidates after his decision to pull out from the 2026 NBA Draft on Wednesday, May 27.

Along with the in-state rivals, Arizona and St. John’s are both very well still in the mix, but the Red Storm are slowly falling out of contention after landing Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou.

On May 28, national reporter Matt Norlander cleared the air on CBS Sports’ Eye On College Basketball podcast, stating that he believes Kentucky will land Momcilovic by the end of the weekend or Monday.

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“My prediction right now is that Milan Momcilovic will go to Kentucky,” Norlander said. “My understanding is that decision is going to come in the next one, two, three days, four days max.”

He would go on to talk about the other top programs involved, stating why he thinks they will be working in an uphill battle in this bidding war.

“My forecast is that it’s Kentucky, but you know, we’ll see if Louisville can get in there,” he continued. “Arizona I don’t think has the money to contend, like I think Kentucky and Louisville just have more money to play with.”

For the worried members of the Big Blue Nation, this is certainly good news to be put out by one of the most trusted college basketball reporters at the national level.

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Going by this report and Adam Zagoria’s from NYT Sports, it shouldn’t be long until a commitment decision for Momcilovic is announced publicly.

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Men's Basketball

BREAKING: No. 2 Ranked Transfer Milan Momcilovic Removes Name From 2026 NBA Draft

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6 days ago

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May 27, 2026

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Kamil Krzaczynski | Imagn Images

Milan Momcilovic has officially removed his named from the 2026 NBA Draft and will return to college for his senior season.

Kentucky leads in his recruitment, followed closely by St. John’s, Louisville and Arizona. A backdoor to Iowa State is also still open.

The No. 2 ranked transfer would be a huge addition to Kentucky’s 2026-27 roster if he committed, averaging 16.9 points per game on 50.6/48.7/87.8 shooting splits last year. Funny enough, in the current world of college athletics that we live in, Momcilovic was responsible for eliminating the Wildcats from the NCAA Tournament, dropping 20 points in the Round of 32.

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He would go on to lose to Tennessee in the Sweet 16 with Iowa State, so at least we know that there’s some inner-hatred for a long-standing rival if he ends up a Wildcat.

He made the most three-point shots in Division I basketball and is a versatile 6-foot-8 wing, which would fit perfectly into Mark Pope’s offensive system. He completed workouts with the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves during the draft process.

Now, the bidding war for the top dog begins, with some of the most prestigious programs in the sport placing their bets on the star forward.

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