Tennessee forward DeWayne Brown II (6) and Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic (22) chase after the loose ball during the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 college basketball game at the United Center in Chicago on March 27, 2026. | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Over the last several recruiting classes, the University of Kentucky Basketball program has come up short in terms of landing the “big fish” in either recruiting or the transfer portal.

But recently, head coach Mark Pope and his staff landed Milan Momcilovic — the top target in the entire transfer portal — from Iowa State to join their team for the upcoming season.

Advertisement

While many people clearly played a role in getting Momcilovic to Kentucky, former Wildcat Tyler Herro clearly had his fingerprints on the move.

Tyler’s dad — Chris — was Momcilovic’s coach back in AAU and (of course) was heavily connected to UK through Tyler back around the COVID years when Momcilovic was being recruited out of high school.

“Tyler reached out to me. Chris (Herro) and my dad are pretty good friends because they used to coach together on the EYB,” Momcilovic said during Thursday’s media scrum. “So, he was calling me, and he was obviously telling me, ‘Go to Kentucky. Go to Kentucky.’ I really like the Herro family. Obviously, I listen to them, but it was my decision at the end of the day.”

Though Kentucky never reached out originally back during his high school recruiting, they did come knocking most recently during this past summer, and with the help of Herro’s encouragement, Momcilovic will represent the Big Blue Nation this fall in Lexington for a chance to try and bring banner No. 9 home to UK.

Advertisement

Can’t love this enough.

Trent Noah has been Kentucky’s ‘best player’ in practice – KSR

Watch out!

Jaylen Brown ‘excited and disappointed’ after trade to 76ers – ESPN

Still so crazy.

Kentucky WBB Secures Commitment from Jayden McClain – KSR

Huge.

Billy Donovan to become lead assistant for Spurs – ESPN

No return to college bball for Billy D.

Alex Wilkins chose Kentucky because ‘they put a million guys in the draft’ – KSR

Will he be next?

76ers enter mix for LeBron James after Jaylen Brown add – ESPN

This would be nuts.

Tyler Herro helped recruit Milan Momcilovic to Kentucky – KSR

Love it.

Advertisement

Eason to return to Rockets on 5-year, $81.5M deal – ESPN

Nice payday.