Kentucky head coach Mark Pope has received widespread praise for assembling one of the nation’s strongest transfer classes this offseason, and one of his biggest recruiting victories came with the commitment of elite forward Milan Momcilovic. While Pope deserves much of the credit for landing the highly sought-after sharpshooter, it turns out he had an important ally working behind the scenes former Wildcats standout and current NBA star Tyler Herro.
Momcilovic recently revealed that Herro actively encouraged him to choose Kentucky, giving the Wildcats an additional recruiting advantage during one of the most competitive transfer battles of the offseason.
Speaking with reporters, Momcilovic shared that Herro repeatedly reached out during the recruiting process, making it clear where he believed the talented forward belonged.
According to Momcilovic, the former Kentucky guard consistently urged him to commit to the Wildcats, repeatedly telling him that Lexington was the right destination to continue his basketball career.
The recruiting effort wasn’t simply a random outreach from an NBA player. Herro and Momcilovic already shared a longstanding relationship that made the conversations far more meaningful.
The connection between the two players dates back several years.
Before either player reached the collegiate spotlight, Momcilovic competed for Team Herro on the Nike EYBL circuit, where he first became acquainted with the future NBA standout.
The relationship extended beyond basketball as well.
Herro’s father and Momcilovic’s father developed a friendship through their coaching backgrounds, creating a strong family connection that naturally kept communication open throughout Momcilovic’s recruitment.
That existing relationship allowed Herro’s advice to carry considerable weight as Momcilovic weighed his options before ultimately choosing Kentucky.
Momcilovic’s commitment represented a significant turning point in Kentucky’s offseason.
After facing early criticism regarding the pace of his recruiting efforts, Pope quickly changed the narrative by securing commitments from several high-profile players, beginning with the five-star transfer from Iowa State.
Known as one of college basketball’s premier perimeter shooters, Momcilovic arrives in Lexington expected to play a major role in Kentucky’s offense from day one.
His ability to stretch the floor with elite three-point shooting makes him one of the most impactful additions in the transfer portal this year.
Earlier this year, some members of the Big Blue Nation questioned the former Wildcat’s loyalty after he publicly picked Arkansas to win the national championship, a prediction that drew criticism from portions of the fan base.
By actively helping recruit one of Kentucky’s biggest offseason additions, Herro has reminded fans that he continues to support the Wildcats despite now starring in the NBA.
His willingness to promote the program during a high-profile recruitment demonstrates that his connection to Kentucky remains strong.
Beyond their personal relationship, Herro and Momcilovic share another obvious similarity their ability to score from long range.
Herro built his reputation at Kentucky by delivering timely three-pointers and clutch performances, including several memorable shots during the Wildcats’ NCAA Tournament run before becoming an NBA standout.
Momcilovic enters Lexington with perhaps an even stronger shooting résumé.
Last season, the former Iowa State forward established himself as one of the nation’s most accurate perimeter threats, converting an outstanding 48.7 percent of his three-point attempts.
His elite shooting is expected to become one of the focal points of Pope’s offensive system, with Kentucky planning to maximize his ability to stretch opposing defenses.
For Pope, securing Momcilovic’s commitment was about more than adding another talented player—it was about bringing in a proven scorer capable of elevating Kentucky’s championship aspirations.
With Herro lending his voice throughout the recruiting process, the Wildcats gained valuable support from one of the program’s most recognizable alumni.
Now, as Momcilovic prepares to begin his Kentucky career, both Pope and Big Blue Nation hope the sharpshooting forward can follow a path similar to Herro’s by making an immediate impact in Lexington before eventually reaching the next level.
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