Milan Momcilovic scores 24 in Kentucky debut after $6M NIL move
The gist
Kentucky forward Milan Momcilovic scored 24 points in an 85-57 season-opening win over Manhattan.
His reported $6 million NIL deal makes him college basketball's highest-paid player.
How it unfolded
- Mar 30, 2026Momcilovic declared for the NBA Draft while retaining the right to return to college after Iowa State's season ended in the Sweet 16.
- May 28, 2026He announced he would withdraw from the 2026 NBA Draft and return to college for his senior season, entering the transfer portal as the No. 2-rated player.
- Oct 29, 2026He was named to the NABC Division I Player of the Year preseason watch list, plus preseason All-American and preseason All-SEC honors.
Key terms
- transfer portal
- An NCAA database that lets student-athletes publicly signal their desire to transfer between member schools.
- NBA Draft
- Selections made by teams in the first of the two rounds of the annual NBA draft of eligible players.
- Sweet 16
- Describes a college basketball team suited to the single-elimination NCAA tournament played mostly in March.
Source: Wikipedia