Zvonimir Ivišić, a former big man for Kentucky, is n Calipari’s first pledge to Arkansas.

Zvonimir Ivišić, a former center for Kentucky, said on Monday that he is moving to Arkan

sas to rejoin head coach John Calipari. After 15 seasons at UK, Calipari was named the Razorbacks’ new coach last week. Ivišić is Arkansas’ first pledge.

Acquiring the Croatian center forward marks a dramatic start to what will be a demanding few months of roster construction for Calipari, who joked on Wednesday that “there is no team” at Arkansas. Calipari has a lot of job ahead of him, as the entire squad of the Razorbacks for 2023–24 is either out of eligibility, in the transfer portal, or turning pro after coach Eric Musselman left to join USC.

After sitting out the first 16 games of the season, Ivišić gave the Wildcats tantalizing glimpses of what could be season as they wait for NCAA approval. In just 16 minutes during his debut against Georgia on January 20, the 7-foot-2 stretch big man ended with 13 points, five rebounds, three blocks, and two assists. He also made three of his four 3-point attempts.

That outstanding debut set an impossible bar for Ivišić, who found it difficult to establish a consistent role in the weeks that followed. Even still, Ivišić clearly possesses the skills necessary to be a high-level starter in collegiate basketball thanks to his unique combination of size, skill, and shooting ability.