“Huge PR”: Insider Deems Milan Momcilovic’s $6M Deal as PR Coup for Mark Pope

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“Huge PR”: Insider Deems Milan Momcilovic’s $6M Deal as PR Coup for Mark Pope

Feb 15, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope reacts during the first half against the Texas Longhorns at Moody Center. © Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Sarthak Sharma · College Sports Network

Tue, Jun 2, 2026 ·

2 min read

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Mark Pope just pulled off a major coup by managing to recruit one of the finest young stars in college basketball today in Milan Momcilovic for the Kentucky Wildcats, and it comes at just the right time.

Pope has been criticized by one and all since missing out on key recruits, with things becoming especially difficult for the Kentucky boss after he missed out on the top 2026 recruit in Tyran Stokes, who committed to Kansas instead.

But with the addition of Milan Momcilovic for a rumored $6 Million, Pope has seemingly saved some face, and might be back in the good graces of the BBN with another long season in the offing.

And according to Field of 68 and college basketball insider Jeff Goodman, this is no less than a major PR clean up for Pope, who has been struggling to impress otherwise in the transfer portal.

"I think year 3 is a pivotal year for Mark Pope and his future in Lexington. With Milan Momcilovic you add not only the best shooter in the country, to a team that sorely needs shooting, but you're adding a winner, a culture guy. You're adding a guy that helped build that Iowa State program that frankly is regarded as one of the best culture teams, overachieving programs in the last few years.

"I also think it's huge PR wise for Pope. I mean he's been absolutely crucified up until a week ago when Malachi Moreno decided he was coming back to school."

Is Mark Pope's Job Now Safe?

Many reports suggested that Mark Pope might not have been in the best spot if he couldn't get the recruits he wanted, with eyebrows starting to be raised around the program's future.

But now with the right players in, only results will decide Mark Pope's future at Kentucky. Certainly it seems as though Pope will survive till the start of the new campaign, where the likes of Momcilovic and Moreno will be crucial to the eventual future of Pope at the Wildcats.