When Milan Momcilovic pulled his name out of the NBA Draft, Kentucky quickly emerged as a serious landing spot for the nation’s best three-point shooter. And if there was any doubt about what it took to get him to Lexington, the money makes it plain.
According to On3’s NIL Valuation rankings, which started on July 1st this year, Momcilovic is listed at $6 million. That puts him No. 2 overall among college athletes, tied for first in college basketball and second only in all of college sports.
The only athlete ahead of him is Miami quarterback Darian Mensah at $6.5 million. Right behind Momcilovic are Louisville center Flory Bidunga at $6 million, then a group at $5 million that includes Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, St. John’s small forward Tounde Yessoufou, Florida small forward Thomas Haugh, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, Gonzaga center Massamba Diop and Kansas small forward Tyran Stokes.
Six of the 10 names on the list come from college basketball, a sign of just how much top-end talent in the sport is commanding in the NIL era.
For Kentucky, the takeaway is simple: the Wildcats were willing to spend to land a major piece, and they got their guy. Momcilovic’s arrival gives them the best shooter in the country, and it also shows the program is adapting quickly to the way college athletics works now.
That matters beyond one roster move. Kentucky’s willingness to invest is a positive sign for both basketball and football as the school tries to keep pace in a landscape where landing elite talent often comes down to how deep a team is willing to reach into its pocket.
In Other News...
Kentucky Fans Stunned By Ugly Twist In Tyler Herro Bam Adebayo Story
For Kentucky fans, the Tyler Herro-Bam Adebayo connection has always carried a little extra weight because both became two of the programs most recognizable NBA alumni, with each helping lead the Wildcats to an Elite Eight run in different seasons. Their paths eventually crossed again in Miami, where they were teammates and part of the franchises core, making any friction between them feel bigger than a routine off-court disagreement.
Now the story has taken an ugly turn after a confrontation in Las Vegas tied to comments that followed Herros move to Milwaukee in the blockbuster deal that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami. Herro has since said he wants to put the incident behind him and focus on his new team, but for Kentucky followers who watched both players rise in Lexington, the unresolved tension is the part that lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Will Stein Faces Kentuckys Most Frustrating Recruiting Test Yet
Will Stein arrived in Lexington in December with a mandate to lift Kentuckys recruiting ceiling, and the early returns have given the program a jolt of optimism. The Wildcats have long had to fight uphill for elite talent, but Steins push has already helped change the tone around what Kentucky can realistically chase on the trail, especially with a quarterback target like Jake Nawrot in the mix.
The larger test is still the one Kentucky has rarely solved: turning that momentum into a sustained pipeline of top-end recruits who actually stick. Nawrots place near the top of the programs all-time recruiting pecking order says plenty about the buzz Stein has created, but the real question is whether this is the start of a lasting shift or just another promising stretch that leaves Kentucky waiting for the next breakthrough. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Just Entered A Massive QB Battle With Oregon
Oregons quarterback pipeline already looks crowded, and the Ducks are still pushing ahead on the next wave. With a five-star commitment secured for the 2027 class and another highly regarded passer on the board for 2028, the long-term picture in Eugene is starting to take shape even before the current depth chart settles in. The appeal is obvious for elite recruits who want a clear developmental path and a program that keeps stacking talent at the position.
Josiah Boyd, one of the top quarterbacks in the 2028 class, is now part of that conversation, and Oregons reported edge goes beyond just the brand name. The Ducks have been viewed as a dream destination for the California prospect, but Kentucky has entered the mix and made this one worth watching. For Oregon, the battle is as much about protecting its future quarterback vision as it is about landing another blue-chip arm. [Read more 🡒]