Mar 22, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) celebrates with Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) after a play during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images
AMES — The writing was on the wall when Iowa State quickly gained four commitments from the transfer portal in roughly a 30-hour period from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening.
Sharpshooting junior forward Milan Momcilovic had already declared for the NBA Draft — which surprised no one, but as the Cyclones’ roster filled up, his future plans came into sharper relief. The 6-8 shooting star who led the nation in 3-point accuracy at 48.8 percent last season then issued a statement at noon on Sunday.
It reads as follows:
“Cyclone Nation: Three-Straight NCAA Tournament Appearances. Two Sweet 16’s. The 2024 Big 12 Tournament Title. Countless Top 25 Victories.
The last three years have been the best of my life, and you have been a major part of that. The experience of playing in Hilton Coliseum in front of the best fans in the country is something I will always cherish and remember.
To My Coaches and Staff: Thank You for everything you have done for me. From the moment you started recruiting me, you have been the best support system away from home I could ask for. You have helped me develop as a player and a person in my time at Iowa State.
To My Teammates: What a run it’s been! I’ve enjoyed every minute of being together from the soccer field to the postseason, it’s been a pleasure.
It has always been a dream of mine to play in the NBA. At this time, I’m turning my full focus to the NBA Draft, while also entering my name in the Transfer Portal, with the goal of being in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Thank You For Everything, Cyclone Nation!”
ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger also issued a statement shortly after Momcilovic’s appeared on social media.
“Milan and I have had meaningful discussions about his future over the last couple of weeks,” Otzelberger said. “He needs to focus on what is best for him and his family. We can’t thank him enough for what he has done for our program. We look forward to following him as he pursues his dream of playing in the NBA.”
