Zvonimir Ivisic, a transfer from Kentucky, commits to Arkansas

Ivisic is going to Arkansas with John Calipari.

Zvonimir Ivisic, a 7-foot-2 forward from Kentucky, committed to the Razorbacks on Monday, just two days after using the transfer portal. It was also rumored that Ivisic was scheduled to meet with new UK head coach Mark Pope on the same day. Ivisic is following John Calipari to Arkansas.

He shared the information on Instagram.

“I had a terrific meeting with Coach Pope today. He’s a fantastic coach and an incredible guy, and he’ll do tremendous things here! I told him after our talk that I wouldn’t be going back to Kentucky,” Ivisic wrote. “I love you, Big Blue Nation, my incredible teammates, and this has been the best experience a Croatian youngster could wish for visiting the US. You brought me.

since the beginning, as one of your own, and the affection only deepened! From the billboard to the myriad other gestures of affection you’ve shown… Come on, I mean. Who takes that action?

“I will always be appreciative of that and hold a particular place in my heart for it. Having said that, there are a few reasons I chose to attend college for the first time in my life. main candidates to enter the NBA after winning a national championship. Coach Cal played a pivotal role in that choice, and nobody does both of those things better than him. I’m thrilled to declare that I’ve committed to coaching the Arkansas Razorbacks and Cal because of this.”

The native of Croatia, who spent 2020–23 playing professionally abroad with SC Derby in Podgorica, Montenegro, signed a contract with Kentucky in August of 2023. He did not show up or enroll, though, despite the Kentucky athletics department’s best efforts to get him accepted to the university.

in UK schools through October.

Ivisic was cleared by the NCAA a few hours before UK’s home game against Georgia on January 20, therefore he was forced to miss the first sixteen games of the season.

In addition to scoring 13 points in his spectacular Wildcat debut, the 20-year-old rookie also grabbed five rebounds, blocked two shots, delivered two assists, including a behind-the-back pass to Antonio Reeves for a three-pointer, and stole the ball.

After that, he had a couple more memorable games in which he scored 18 points and pulled down five rebounds in a victory over Alabama, but all in all, he was a very limited contributor off the bench due to his severe defensive shortcomings.

He shot 57.7 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from three, and 77.3 percent from the free throw line during the season, averaging 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game.

Ivisic will have three more years of eligibility at Arkansas. In Fayetteville, he is the Razorbacks’ first signing of the Calipari era.