No. 1 Transfer Milan Momcilovic Creates NIL Dilemma for Iowa State

Under fifth-year head coach T. J. Otzelberger, Iowa State once again looked like a national contender.

The Cyclones finished 29–8 overall and 12–6 in Big 12 play, earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and entering March as one of the most balanced teams in college basketball.

However, their run ended in the Sweet Sixteen with a 76–62 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers, falling short of expectations.

Now, Otzelberger will need to shift his attention to retaining one of Iowa State’s best players.

On Sunday, Milan Momcilovic, the NCAA's most efficient three-point shooter (48.7%), announced he is entering both the 2026 NBA Draft and the transfer portal, instantly becoming the No. 1 available player if he returns to college.

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At 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan, Momcilovic has built his reputation as arguably the most lethal shooter in the sport.

This past season, he averaged a career-high 16.9 points per game while leading the NCAA in three-point shooting at 48.7%, doing so on high volume at 7.5 attempts per game. He also shot 50.6% from the field and 87.8% from the free-throw line.

That wasn't a one-year flash, either.

Since arriving in Ames in 2023 as a decorated four-star recruit and Wisconsin Mr. Basketball winner, Momcilovic steadily evolved into the centerpiece of Otzelberger's Cyclones.

He earned Big 12 All-Freshman honors in 2024 after averaging 10.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, then followed it up with All-Big 12 recognition this past season as a junior.

His shot versatility, with movement shooting, quick-trigger catch-and-shoot, and tough mid-post fadeaways, makes him a coveted asset at both the college and NBA levels.

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By entering the draft and the transfer portal simultaneously, Momcilovic is effectively leveraging two markets at once: NBA evaluation and college NIL bidding.

If he returns to school, he won't just be a top player, he'll be the player programs build around overnight.

And that's where the pressure on Iowa State becomes unavoidable.

The Cyclones are already staring at roster turnover, with multiple key contributors leaving, notably All-American Joshua Jefferson and All-Big 12 guard Tamin Lipsey.

But losing Momcilovic would strip them of their offensive engine and their most irreplaceable skill: elite shooting.

If they want him back, it will likely come down to compensation.

In today's NIL landscape, retaining a player of Momcilovic's caliber likely requires a significant financial commitment, especially with blue-blood programs circling.

For comparison, some of the highest-paid players last season included BYU's AJ Dybantsa ($4.2 million NIL valuation), Texas Tech's JT Toppin ($2.8 million), and Texas A&M's PJ Haggerty ($2.6 million).

With the market continuing to grow, Momcilovic could easily command over $2 million, far beyond his current valuation.

That said, if he lands in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, as many expect, he would surpass that figure on a rookie deal alone.

Players selected in the top half of the draft earn between $4.5 million and $14 million in their first NBA season, per Spotrac.

Simply put, if Iowa State doesn't come close to meeting that number, the outcome is straightforward: he either cashes in elsewhere at the college level or takes his chances in the NBA.

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This story was originally published April 12, 2026 at 5:55 PM.