Free Big Z? Calipari says it’s almost time to get ‘aggressive’ with NCAA over Ivisic case.
For the most part, John Calipari has taken a patient stance — publicly, at least — regarding the NCAA’s delays in making a final ruling on the eligibility case of Zvonimir Ivisic.
His patience might run out soon.
Calipari said on his weekly radio show Monday night that the time is nearing to get “aggressive” with the NCAA as it continues to drag its feet on the Ivisic matter. The 7-foot-3 prospect from Croatia arrived on UK’s campus on Oct. 12, but — more than three months later — he’s missed the first 15 games of the Wildcats’ season as he awaits word from NCAA investigators on his eligibility status.
Ivisic, who is viewed as a possible NBA draft pick later this year, played for a professional development team in Europe prior to committing to the Wildcats on Aug. 1. His case was also delayed by UK’s admissions process, which did not ultimately clear Ivisic to enroll as a student at the university until early October. He arrived on campus several days later, in time to enroll in “part-of-term” courses, which would have made him academically eligible for the fall semester.
The 20-year-old announced on social media last month that he achieved a 3.25 GPA during that semester, but he still hasn’t been cleared by the NCAA from an amateurism standpoint due to his time spent playing professionally overseas.
“I grabbed him today, and I told him, ‘Look, man, I feel so bad.’ And I said to him, ‘I’m not worried about my team. This is you. As a person. That you’re having to go through this.’ I don’t know what he’ll add to our team,” Calipari said, speaking to UK announcer Tom Leach. “I mean, Tom, you’ve been in there. He’s pretty good.”
“Yeah, he’s skilled,” added Leach, who regularly attends UK’s practices.
“But we’ve got good players,” Calipari said. “But it’s not fair to him. It took a long time to get him admitted. … And then it’s taken the NCAA even more time to look at the facts. And there are European kids playing around the country. And they’re playing. And he’s not. So hopefully we hear something. I just know that — around the country — people are being very aggressive, when it comes to different stuff with the NCAA. And my hope is — if this thing lingers too much longer — then we become aggressive.”
Calipari didn’t elaborate on what UK could do to be more “aggressive” in Ivisic’s case. The program has kept a close eye on other teams’ international players, and the ruling earlier this season that the UCLA duo of Aday Mara and Berke Buyuktuncel would be granted eligibility was viewed as a positive sign for Ivisic’s efforts to play college basketball. Both were ruled eligible in November, about two months after arriving in the United States.
Meanwhile, Ivisic is still waiting.
In an appearance on former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s podcast last week, Calipari implied that the details of a stipend received by Ivisic while playing professionally in Europe was the primary hangup in his case.
“He made a stipend,” Calipari said on the podcast. “You’re saying it was too much of a stipend? Juniors and seniors in high school are making hundreds of thousands, and you’re talking about his $200 too much — or $300 too much — whatever it was? We’ve gotta move with the times and what’s going on right now.”
Throughout the process, the Kentucky coach has expressed confidence that Ivisic would ultimately be cleared. He started to show frustration with the NCAA following UK’s win over Louisville, pointing to the perceived double standard of American players being able to profit off their athletic careers in high school — through name, image and likeness opportunities — while international players, according to Calipari, are held to a different standard.
“Here’s the crazy thing. NIL,” Calipari said Dec. 21. “You do know juniors are making hundreds of thousands. In high school. … ‘Well, it’s stated different.’ Stop it. That’s why we’re in this position, and that’s why the Supreme Court — and every court — says, ‘No. You can’t do it that way.’ I’m hoping that they look at this.”
Calipari allowed Ivisic to travel back home to Croatia over the university’s winter break, noting that the European big man had battled illness and lost weight while dealing with the stress off his uncertain situation. He rejoined the team a few days before UK’s SEC opener at Florida on Jan. 6.
“It’s definitely nice to have him in the gym — have his personality back around,” teammate Tre Mitchell told the Herald-Leader the day before the Florida game. “Definitely nice to have some more height out there on the court. Another skilled player. A guy that can do a little bit of everything. He’s getting back acclimated to everything we’re doing.
“But they just need to free my guy, man. They just need to let him loose.”
ESPN ranks Ivisic as the No. 70 overall prospect for the 2024 NBA draft.
Kentucky has 16 regular-season games remaining, with home games against Mississippi State on Wednesday and Georgia on Saturday scheduled for this week. The Wildcats have a 12-3 record and are ranked No. 8 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll.
UK started the season with all three of its 7-footers — Ivisic, freshman Aaron Bradshaw and sophomore Ugonna Onyenso — sidelined. Bradshaw and Onyenso both suffered offseason foot injuries, but each player made his season debut last month. Bradshaw has now broken into the Wildcats’ starting lineup, while Onyenso played a career-high 31 minutes in Saturday’s loss to Texas A&M.
Calipari said that Ivisic kept a positive attitude during their discussion Monday.
“Coach, I’m good,” the freshman said, according to UK’s coach. “I’ve gone this long. I can wait. I really want to help the team, and I want to play. But I’m good. … Don’t worry about me.”
