There is plenty of excitement surrounding the Kentucky Wildcats this summer as Mark Pope and his staff look to make some noise in Year 3. One of those key players? Milan Momcilovic.

The Iowa State sharpshooter chose the Cats over Louisville and Arizona, and is now set up to be one of the key players on the roster this season. With a quick recruitment, however, and no campus visits, how did Milan come to the decision of heading to Lexington?

Here is what he told the UK Sports Network for why he chose Mark Pope and Kentucky:

“Playing against him at BYU really stood out to me,” Momcilovic said. “I think the first year or two at Iowa State, we played against him, and his teams are tough to play against. A lot of shot-making they had, that really stood out. He likes playing with a lot of shooters, and obviously that’s my strength. We mesh so well together.”

It was widely talked about how well he fit into the shooting role that we have seen from players in Coach Pope’s offense. Koby Brea shined in his first season, and it was Colin Chandler last year. Now all the pieces are set up for Momcilovic to become the great shooter for the Cats this year.

THAT IS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT!

It is Mitch Barnhart’s last day.

A cool story about one of the new UK transfers.

• Louisiana is temporarily increasing the red snapper bag limit from four to five fish per person.
• The increased limit will be in effect from July 2 to July 5 for the Independence Day weekend.
• This change is part of the state’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
• The bag limit will return to four fish per person on July 6.

Louisiana is expanding the fishing limit for its signature saltwater game fish as part of the state’s American 250 celebration, Gov. Jeff Landry and his Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Tyler Bosworth announced.

Bosworth signed a declaration of emergency to increase the red snapper bag limit from four fish per person to five fish per person for three days from July 2 to July 5 on Independence Day weekend.

“The celebration of America’s 250th birthday is a time to reflect on the blessings and abundant resources we have in our country and here in Louisiana, the Sportsman’s Paradise,’’ Bosworth said. “Increasing our red snapper limit to five fish is a way we’d like to thank the anglers of our state as they enjoy this special holiday with family and friends.’’

Landry is an avid angler, hunter and outdoorsman.

“The increase in the red snapper limit for the holiday weekend is a great way to celebrate America’s 250th birthday,” the governor said in a statement. “I look forward to seeing anglers across our state celebrating our nation’s independence in Sportsman’s Paradise.”

Louisiana is considered the epicenter of red snapper fishing in the Gulf of America, with Venice and Grand Isle as the state’s premier launching spots to reach the most prolific snapper grounds in the Gulf.

Venice is often call the “Red Snapper Capital.”

The state’s extensive offshore oil and gas rigs and artificial reefs provide exceptional access to massive populations for snapper, which are prized for their fight and taste.

Bosworth encourages anglers to reduce barotrauma while fishing for red snapper and other reef fish by using descending devices to return fish to a survivable depth before being released. See the LDWF barotrauma webpage for more information.

The bag limit will revert to four fish per person, per day on July 6.

For additional questions regarding the current red snapper season, go to the agency’s Red Snapper webpage.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

Louisiana’s America 250 concert: Make plans for free Louisiana America 250 celebration with Grammy winner

Maryland’s 2026 primary election is almost in the books, so it’s time to recognize the –ests among the results — best, worst and weirdest.

Hear me roar

Tie: Vanessa Atterbeary, Aisha Braveboy, Allison Pickard

If these Democrats win in November — almost a sure thing given the weakness of their opponents — women will be the executives of Howard, Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties. That’s a first.

If incumbents Julie Giordano in Wicomico and Jessica Fitzwater in Frederick also win in November, at least five of the nine county executives will be women. That’s another first.

The results also put Black women and men — Braveboy, Atterbeary, Will Jawando in Montgomery County and Julian Jones in Baltimore County — in four of the executive offices, one more first.

The results set up an interesting tier of possible candidates for governor in 2030, the highest office in the state that’s still male-only territory.

Runner-up: Pam Beidle. The retiring state senator funded a slate of candidates that almost swept the Anne Arundel primary.

Small fortune

David Trone

Ever hear the one about the best way to make a small fortune? Start with a big one and then run for office.

Trone, the liquor store magnate, loaned himself $25 million for his Democratic campaign to win back the 6th Congressional District seat. He lost to his successor, Rep. April McClain-Delaney.

That’s on top of $57 million he loaned to his campaign for the U.S Senate seat in 2024. He lost that one to U.S. Sen Angela Alsobrooks.

It’s proof of many things. Most notably, the liquor business is very profitable.

Runner-up: Quincy Bareebe. The business owner loaned her 5th Congressional District campaign $8 million.

Clout and about

Wes Moore

The governor’s campaign says 93% of the candidates he endorsed won, and this election solidifies his leadership of the Maryland Democratic Party.

In an email titled “Wes Moore is Maryland’s Kingmaker,” spokesman Carter Elliott said the governor pushed candidates over the top across the state. In some cases, he wrote, the winners were lagging in polls until Moore’s boost.

Among the 200 endorsements, the campaign highlighted Del. Adrian Boafo in the 5th Congressional District primary, McClain-Delaney in the 6th, and Atterbeary, Jawando and Jones in county executive races.

Others he mentioned include Sarah David’s win for the Baltimore County prosecutor’s office, Malcolm Ruff in a Baltimore state Senate race and Tara Jackson in the Democratic primary for Prince George’s state’s attorney

Runners up: Cryptocurrency and pro-Israel super PACS. They spent $8.8 million to elect Boafo.

Nonliving candidate

Nancy Jane Taylor

The Republican candidate for governor was one of nine in the primary that 2022 candidate Dan Cox won.

Taylor passed away May 23, but her family used her obituary for one final pitch, asking friends and loved ones to remember her by voting for her.

The Hagerstown woman and her running mate, daughter Rachel Hannah “Mohawk” Swift, earned 2,618 votes. That was good enough to beat one other candidate.

Runner-up: Ralph Jaffe. The Baltimore County perennial candidate died in February.

Best for everyone

Dalya Attar

Whatever the outcome of salacious charges involving alleged sex tapes and blackmail facing the state senator from Baltimore, voters shouldn’t be dragged into it.

Ruff defeated Attar in a contentious Democratic primary that included accusations of antisemitism.

Now she can focus on her defense.

Runner-up: Marc Knapp. Removed from the Anne Arundel Orphans Court for misconduct, voters rejected his bid to regain his seat.

Public financing

Will Jawando

Jawando won the Montgomery County executive Democratic primary, tantamount to taking the office, on a publicly financed campaign. It’s the biggest victory this year for a candidate using the system.

The state and five counties now offer this option.

Runner-up: Gavin Buckley. The former Annapolis mayor was one of two candidates in Anne Arundel’s new system, and the only one to win.

Stuntastic

Bobby LaPin

The social media phenom’s campaign was in some ways a stunt, although one good enough to make Senate President Bill Ferguson change his approach to the election and, maybe, his job.

Runner-up: Mark Conway. The Baltimore councilman used guerrilla tactics in his unsuccessful challenge to Rep. Kweisi Mfume, notably an April debate challenge at the congressman’s office.

See you in court

Gabriel Acevero

The Montgomery County delegate won likely reelection to the General Assembly, but he’s got to go to court first.

The delegate exchanged punches with local union leader Gino Renne at an early voting site in Gaithersburg. Both men say the other started it, and both said they would file assault charges.

Runner-up: Jared DeMarinis. The state elections director blocked President Donald Trump’s attempt to seize Maryland voter rolls, but now faces a Republican lawsuit to block certification of primary results.

Political toast

Ed Hale

Party switching, delusions of grandeur and ethically gray AI ads do not a statesman make. The former banker should take his Republican primary loss to Cox in the governor’s race as an invitation to exit stage right.

Runner-up: Nancy King. The 76-year-old Senate majority leader from Montgomery County lost a surprise squeaker to Amar Mukunda, 33.

Runner-runner-up: Harry Dunn. A hero of Jan. 6 to be sure, but twice defeated in runs for Congress is a sign that maybe it’s time to move on.

Biggest loser

Independent voters

Many winners in the Democratic primaries now go on to almost certain election in November.

Maryland has closed primaries, so all taxpayers fund elections that only party members decide. In races where one party has an unbreakable majority, primaries serve as the general election.

So when turnout sinks to an anemic 20% as it did in this primary, a teensy portion of the electorate is calling the shots. If you’re an unaffiliated voter, you’re silenced.

If it sounds like taxation without representation, it’s not. It just sounds like it.

Runner-up: Republicans. Maryland’s perennial runner-up is on a path to finish second, again.

Did I miss something? Absolutely.

Now it’s your turn. Look forward to your comments below.