LEXINGTON – Zvonimir Ivišić’s passage in Kentucky lasted less than six months. The 7-foot-tall Croatian freshman who arrived in Lexington in mid-October supposedly enteredd the transfer portal on Saturday night.
It will likely wrap up a brief stay in Lexington. One who saw many twists and turns before finally taking the floor to former coach John Calipari and the Wild cats.
Ivišić committed to UK on August 1, becoming the eighth (and final) member of the team’s 2023 recruiting class, which ranked #1 nationally according to the 247Sports Composite.
“I received a scholarship offer from Coach Calipari to attend the University of Kentucky,” Ivišić said in an Instagram Stories post. “I’m excited to say that I accepted the scholarship and that I will play there next season. Go big blue!!
But more than two months passed between his commitment and his arrival in the Bluegrass State as the university reviewed his application as an international student. Ivišić was finally admitted to the university on October 4 and stepped into Lexington the following weekone day before making an appearance at Kentucky’s annual Big Blue Madness event in Rupp Arena.
However, his quest to suit up for the Wildcats was just beginning.
For the next three months, Ivišić sat out while awaiting an NCAA decision on his amateur status after playing in professional leagues abroad before joining Kentucky. The NCAA released him on January 20, and Ivišić wasted no time in making a difference, playing that night against Georgia, putting on a show with 13 points (on 5-of-7 shooting, 3-of-4 3s), five rebounds, two assists, three blocks and two steals – in just 16 minutes.
Before UK’s season ended with a first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Oakland on March 21, Ivišić appeared in 15 games off the bench, averaging 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. in 11.7 minutes. Ivišić also showed off his shooting prowess, connecting on 57.7% (30 of 52) of his attempts overall, including 37.5% (6 of 16) from beyond the 3-point arc.
This story will be updated.
Contact Kentucky men’s basketball and soccer reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on the X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball great Zvonimir Ivisic enters NCAA transfer portal
