Momcilovic Swings Kentucky Into the Preseason Top 25 as Wildcats Land at No. 17

Kentucky’s offseason uncertainty has a new end point after the Wildcats finalized their move for Milan Momcilovic, the Iowa State sharpshooter who becomes a centerpiece in the program’s 2026-27 outlook. CBS Sports’ way-too-early preseason Top 25 and 1 updates on June 2 reflect the shift immediately, with Kentucky jumping into the rankings at No. 17 in Version 17 after previously being unranked. In the Kentucky basketball ecosystem, that kind of drop-off and recovery matters because it changes how outsiders read the roster before the first exhibition game is even set.

Momcilovic’s arrival is not just symbolic. Kentucky’s official signing announcement describes him as a 6-foot-8 forward who “led the country” in 3-point shooting last season and played the previous three years at Iowa State. The production is the argument: as a junior, he averaged 16.9 points per game, shot 50.6% from the field, and converted 48.7% from 3-point range. He also made 136 threes, a single-season high in Iowa State program history, and the team’s leading scorer accounted for multiple 20-point nights and games with three or more made threes.

CBS Sports framed the commitment as a meaningful operational fix for Pope’s third-year program, not merely another name added to a transfer list. The column notes that Kentucky’s projection moved from unstable to contender-like once Momcilovic became an option, and it ties the ranking bump directly to the Wildcats’ improved talent picture. CBS also cited a reported $6 million NIL deal as part of the conversation around whether the price was justified, while acknowledging that not every program would make the same calculation.

The official Kentucky release adds context on what the Wildcats are actually buying. It lists Momcilovic’s efficiency and the national profile he carried into the transfer cycle, including the 3-point accuracy and the volume needed to force defenses to react. The release also documents his honors, including All-Big 12 Second Team recognition in 2026, Big 12 All-Tournament Team nods in both 2024 and 2026, and a Big 12 All-Freshman Team selection in 2024. Those details matter because elite shooting without a résumé is easier to dismiss, while a proven tournament performer tends to travel better to the postseason.

From a coaching standpoint, Kentucky’s challenge will be integration, not effort. Pope’s staff now has a specialist who can change spacing and shift defensive attention, which can alter the quality of looks for teammates even when Momcilovic is not taking a shot every possession. The most immediate question is how quickly the Wildcats build lineup consistency around a player who demands attention at the perimeter and can score on demand. Kentucky’s early ranking status suggests a belief that the fit is strong enough to matter this season, but preseason rankings are still probabilities, not forecasts.

Momcilovic’s background also adds an extra layer to the storyline. Kentucky’s signing announcement notes that he reached the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons at Iowa State and made two Sweet 16 trips, which is relevant for a program that needs late-game reliability as much as regular-season scoring. CBS’s Top 25 and 1 placement gives Kentucky national visibility now, but it also raises the expectations for a roster expected to take on “title contender” roles rather than simply rebuilding toward them.

What to watch next is whether Kentucky can convert the early confidence into measurable on-court continuity. The transfer-portal calendar has largely run its course for the moment, so the next test arrives in August and November: chemistry, shooting consistency under pressure, and whether the Wildcats’ offensive sets produce more than isolated hot stretches. If Kentucky’s No. 17 preseason standing holds up through the nonconference slate, it will validate the idea that one late commitment can reset an entire offseason narrative. If not, this will still be remembered as the moment the Wildcats finally got stable footing on paper.

CBS Sports’ June 2 update placed Kentucky at No. 17 in Version 17 of its 2026-27 preseason Top 25 and 1 after the Wildcats were previously unranked.

Kentucky officially signed Milan Momcilovic on June 5, per the program’s athletics release.

Momcilovic, a 6-foot-8 forward, averaged 16.9 points per game as a junior at Iowa State and shot 48.7% from 3-point range, making 136 threes (a single-season Iowa State record).

CBS cited a reported $6 million NIL deal in discussing whether the investment in Momcilovic made sense for Mark Pope’s program.

Momcilovic was named All-Big 12 Second Team in 2026 and earned Big 12 All-Tournament Team honors in 2024 and 2026, according to Kentucky’s signing announcement.