Willie Cauley-Stein says this summer’s run with La Familia in The Basketball Tournament will be his final one, calling it his “last ride” and signaling the end of his basketball career.
For Cauley-Stein, the decision isn’t about falling out of love with the game. It’s about choosing when to step away, and doing it while he’s still surrounded by former Wildcats and Kentucky fans.
“I think just like - not being on an active roster is just the hardest thing, staying in shape,” Cauley-Stein told KSR. “To take two months and just hurry up and get in shape every year, it’s just hard. I don’t want to do it.”
That’s the grind he’s done with. He wants this chapter to end on his terms.
La Familia’s mission is bigger than just a farewell tour, though. Cauley-Stein said the group is focused on getting past rival The Ville after last year’s heated matchup, while also chasing the $2 million TBT prize. At the same time, he wants the run to give Kentucky fans one more memorable ride.
The former SEC Defensive Player of the Year said he hopes the atmosphere is something special, and that he wants to take in every second because this could be the last time he ever plays competitively.
He does plan to stay connected to the program in some way, but for now the priority is clear: make this goodbye count. Cauley-Stein’s career started in Lexington, and now it appears to be coming full circle with one final run in blue and white.
In Other News...
This Transfer Could Change Everything For Mark Pope At Kentucky
Mark Pope is heading into his third season at Kentucky with the roster once again in transition, as the Wildcats have lost several players to the NBA draft and the transfer portal while also bringing back a few key contributors. Even so, there is a different feel to this offseason because of the additions coming in, and the most intriguing of them is Milan Momcilovic, a 6-foot-8 forward from Pewaukee, Wisconsin who spent three seasons at Iowa State after arriving as a former Top 40 prospect.
Momcilovic gives Kentucky a proven scorer after averaging 16.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game and starting almost every game for a Sweet Sixteen team last season. For a roster that needed more balance and a better fit in the frontcourt, his arrival could end up being the piece that changes how competitive this team can be in the SEC, even if the full shape of the lineup is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Is Watching A Late Roster Opportunity That Could Change Everything
The NCAAs new 5 for 5 rule has already started to reshape how programs think about roster building, and Kentucky is keeping a close eye on one possible late-opening that could matter down the line. The rule trims collegiate eligibility to five years and removes the old safety nets of redshirting and medical redshirts, which has pushed some players who just finished their fourth year into legal challenges as they seek one more season.
Among the names in that mix is Cade Tyson, whose path has already shown both the upside and the volatility Kentucky staff will be weighing. If the extra year is granted, the Wildcats are reportedly interested in adding him for the 2026-27 roster, a reminder that the most important roster moves sometimes depend on decisions being argued well outside the programs walls. [Read more 🡒]
Milan Momcilovic Just Gave Kentucky Fans Another Reason To Believe In Mark Pope
Milan Momcilovics path to Kentucky came down to more than a logo or a sales pitch. In an interview with UK Sports Network, the forward said he made his commitment while standing on his driveway, a moment that fit the personal feel of his recruitment and the trust he built with Mark Pope along the way. He also pointed to his familiarity with Popes coaching style from past games against BYU, which gave him a clearer sense of what Kentuckys new offense could look like.
For Kentucky fans still trying to gauge how Popes vision translates on the floor, Momcilovics comments are another encouraging sign. He described the relationship and the trust behind the decision as important parts of the process, and that kind of buy-in matters when a program is trying to sell a system as much as a destination. The bigger question now is how quickly that comfort level turns into production once he gets into the mix. [Read more 🡒]