October is just a couple of days away, which means college basketball is right around the corner. Louisville basketball is expected to be one of the top programs this season, as Pat Kelsey built a veteran roster through the Transfer Portal while adding valuable pieces from the 2026 recruiting class.
Louisville basketball receives blunt message in latest Kentucky roster debate
Louisville will have a whole new roster this season after Pat Kelsey lost nine of his top-10 players and brought in seven from the Transfer Portal. The Cardinals had one of the best portal classes in the nation, and the crazy part is that they were so close to having an even better class.
Louisville landed the No. 1 transfer, Flory Bidunga, and was in talks with No. 2 transfer Milan Momcilovic. However, Momcilovic ultimately committed to Kentucky, and the 5-star transfer just revealed how close Louisville was to earning his commitment.
Milan Momcilovic admits Louisville was one of his final two choices
Momcilovic was one of the biggest names to enter the Transfer Portal this offseason, as the Iowa State transfer is the best 3-point shooter in college basketball. He tested his NBA Draft stock for a long time this offseason, but after withdrawing his name from the draft, his recruiting process quickly heated up between Louisville, Kentucky, and a few others.
However, Momcilovic said the decision wasn’t easy; he really liked what Kelsey and the Cardinals had to say and confirmed Louisville was his second choice.
“I mean it was probably my final two, to be honest. I really liked what Pat Kelsey had to say. Obviously, now that I'm here, I know everyone hates them, so I don't want to praise them too much," stated Momcilovic. “But you know, in the recruiting process, everyone tells you what you want to hear… I have respect for them and how they did it. But obviously, I chose here.”
Milan Momcilovic on his recruitment with Louisville:
— Jenna Lifshen (@jensreporting) September 28, 2026
“I mean it was probably my final two, to be honest. I really liked what Pat Kelsey had to say. Obviously, now that I'm here, I know everyone hates them, so I don't want to praise them too much.”
“But you know, in the…
Momcilovic confirming it was Louisville vs. Kentucky has Cardinals fans thinking about the what-if. The 5-star transfer would fit perfectly in Kelsey’s system as a knockdown 3-point specialist and the perfect stretch four to play next to Flory Bidunga.
The 6-foot-8 splashed the most 3s this past season (136) while also ranking No. 1 in 3-point percentage at 48.7 percent. Momcilovic averaged 16.9 points per game this past season and made an impressive 3.7 3s per game.
Now, Louisville is obviously a legit contender already, adding Seth Trimble, Karter Knox, Jackson Shelstad, and others, but imagine Momcilovic wearing red and black instead of blue and white. It will be a fun season for Cardinals fans, and Momcilovic committing to Kentucky over Louisville has December 12 as a huge game, not just for this rivalry, but for college basketball.
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