BYU eyes sharp shooter

BYU is reportedly pursuing Iowa State forward Milan Momčilović after he entered the transfer portal while also declaring for the 2026 National Basketball Association draft. (nba.com) Momčilović announced on Sunday, April 12, that he would enter the portal and keep his college eligibility while testing the draft process. He averaged 16.9 points per game this season and shot 48.7% from 3-point range. (nba.com) That shooting volume is what makes him one of the portal’s most watched names. He made 136 3-pointers on 279 attempts in 37 games, and the Associated Press called him the nation’s most accurate 3-point shooter. (nba.com; espn.com) BYU has reason to chase perimeter shooting after Kevin Young’s first season ended with a first-round National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament loss to Texas. Young said after that game, “There’s just no substitute for shot making,” after the Cougars went 4 for 22 from 3-point range. (si.com; sports-reference.com) The roster context is shifting fast in Provo. Deseret News reported on April 10 that BYU was likely headed toward five new starters in 2026-27 as the portal opened and the program rebuilt around a new mix of veterans and elite freshmen. (deseret.com; heraldextra.com) Momčilović also fits the size profile teams covet in modern spacing lineups. ESPN lists him at 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, and he has started 101 of 102 career games at Iowa State. (espn.com; nba.com) His production jumped sharply as a junior. After averaging 10.9 points as a freshman and 11.5 as a sophomore, he rose to 16.9 points this season while lifting his 3-point accuracy from 35.9% to 39.6% to 48.7% across three years. (espn.com) Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said on Sunday that he and Momčilović had “meaningful discussions” about his future and thanked him for what he had done for the program. Momčilović wrote that he would “turn my focus to the draft,” while leaving open a return to college. (nba.com) The next deadline is May 27 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, when underclassmen must withdraw from the draft to keep college eligibility. Until then, BYU’s reported interest reads like a straightforward bet on size, volume and one of the cleanest outside shooting seasons in the sport. (nba.com)