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John Calipari Is Not Clipping Rob Dillingham’s “Wings”, Letting Him Grow

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2 years ago

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Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham celebrates a big play against North Carolina.
Photo by Chet White | UK Athletics

If you asked someone to describe Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham with one word, one might say “exciting”, “electric”, or even his marque adjective “shifty”. But coming out of high school, scouting reports labeled him as”inconsistent” and “undisciplined”, saying things such as:

“He needs to value substance over style – learning to be more efficient.” – 247Sports

“Will need to prove he can be efficient and under control.” – Sports Illustrated

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“Will need to prove he’s unselfish.” – Sports Illustrated

In his first exhibitions in a Kentucky uniform this summer at GLOBL Jam, adjectives both good and bad, were proven correct. Through four games, Dillingham averaged just 17.1 minutes per game, the 8th most on the roster of ten available players. To say he struggled was an understatement, shooting just 9-29 from the field and 1-7 from three.

Other programs used this as an opportunity to attempt to get Dillingham to leave Kentucky. “You think he got phone calls when we came back?” Calipari asked reporters on media day. “Why don’t you come with us — you don’t think that happened?”

Yet, he stayed committed to Kentucky and trusted the process.

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“Trusting Coach Cal and the process. Today wasn’t my day,” Dillingham said after playing just 12 minutes in game three of GLOBL Jam. “DJ was getting buckets. Reed was getting buckets. If they’re playing better. Why force myself to be mad? We’re a team.”

That display of maturity and mindset was a sign of what was to come. When the team returned to Lexington, Dillingham “lived” in the gym, continuing the work he started in June when he arrived on campus. By early October, he had added 24 pounds to the 155-pound frame he started with and found the comfort level he had been in search of.

At Kentucky Basketball’s Pro Day, Dillingham stood out to the 52 NBA scouts in attendance, calling him the “best player on the floor” and predicting him to be one of the biggest surprises on the team.

Fast forward to mid-December. The scouts were correct. The lightning-quick, undersized guard still keeps the ball on a string and confuses defenders with quick changes of movement and pace, as he always has. However, he is efficient, controlled, and unselfish, as Dillingham himself says, more “pro(-like)”.

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For reference, Dillingham leads Kentucky in assists (4.5 APG, T-2nd in SEC), assist/turnover ratio (2.7), and is second in three-point percentage (46.5%). Doing so coming off the bench and averaging the 7th most minutes on the team (23.2 MPG). Adjusting to per 40 minutes to see where he stands nationally, Dillingham is the ONLY player in the country to project 25+ points and 7+ assists.

An “always chill” Dillingham talked to the media after his latest performance, scoring a Kentucky team-high 17 points in a win against No. 9 North Carolina, including 7 of the Wildcats’ final 14 points. In doing so, Dillingham gives thanks to John Calipari who he says, “helps me, while letting me be me.”

“Since Canada, our relationship has grown so much,” Dillingham said. “He still shows me that he has confidence in me, still letting me rock. At the same time, he wants me to be more pro-like. Make smarter decisions. I’m really just thankful for having him. He helps me while letting me be me.”

Shortly after, Calipari responded to Dillingham’s comments, touching on what it is like to coach such a creative guard and finding a balance between letting him be himself and keeping him under control. “You’re coaching a kid that can create space and get a basket when he wants to,” Calipari said of Dillingham. “Do you clip his wings? You can’t, you gotta let him go.”

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The never-dull Dillingham isn’t prone to mistakes and still has his moments, which is why Calipari has created a ‘three-strike’ rule for him. “I give him two a half. The third one, you’re coming out.

Dillingham’s wings are flying him up NBA draft boards, and he looks to be Kentucky’s next lottery pick.

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Men's Basketball

Star Forward Milan Momcilovic Chooses Kentucky Over Louisville and Arizona

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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

Published

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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