Kentucky coach Mark Pope has been widely criticized for the Wildcats’ transfer portal activity after a disappointing season for the college basketball giants. After assembling a roster reportedly worth $22 million and still falling short of an SEC title and national championship last season, Pope is under pressure to deliver in his third season in charge.
Analyst Pinpoints Kentucky’s Dram Transfer Portal Targets
During Tuesday’s segment of the “Field of 68” podcast, analyst Rob Dauster pinpointed the two players the Wildcats should go all out for in the transfer portal to complete their roster for next season.
“I still think they need to add some players in the wings,” Dauster said. “If I am Kentucky and I am Mark Pope, I see Milan Momcilovic and Allen Graves, their names in the portal and I don’t see them on any first-round mock drafts, I am writing a cheque that says ‘From the University of Kentucky Athletics, to Allen Graves to Momcilovic.’
“And I’m not putting anything in the numbers column and I’m just giving that to them and I’m saying, ‘name a price.’ Because if they get Allen Graves or Momcilovic, to me, those are gamechangers to this specific Kentucky roster.”
Milan Momcilovic had a breakout year with the Iowa State Cyclones, making NCAA history when he became the first player to lead the country in 3-point shooting percentage (48.7%) and 3-pointers made (136).
He averaged 16.9 points on 50.6% shooting from the floor, 3.1 rebounds and 1.0 assist for the high-flying Cylones last season, after which he both declared for the NBA Draft and entered the transfer portal.
On the other hand, Allen Graves established himself as one of the best forwards in the country with the Santa Clara Broncos, averaging 11.8 points on 51.2% shooting from the floor and 41.3% shooting from beyond the arc, 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists last season. He also declared for the NBA Draft and entered the transfer portal.
Analyst Jeff Goodman argued that Pope’s Wildcats needed Graves’ skillset more than they needed Momcilovic, due to the presence of returning guard Kam Williams.
“They might need Graves more than Milan to be honest,” Goodman said. “They might need that precision and that type of player. ‘Cause you have Kam Williams, who I know isn’t better than Milan, but Kam can give you a scorer from the wing with some size.
“Allen Graves would be the guy to me, that I’m praying if I’m Mark Pope, that his stock doesn’t rise through this NBA Draft process and they can just offer him a boatload of money.”
The Wildcats added former Washington Huskies center Franck Kepnang to bolster their roster earlier this week and currently have the No. 12-ranked transfer portal class in the country, according to 247Sports.
