‘Excited about Big Z’: John Calipari talks about Kentucky’s new big man from Croatia
Kentucky men’s basketball has a new player on its 2023-24 roster.
On Aug. 1, 7-foot-2 Croatian center Zvonimir Ivisic committed to the Wildcats, becoming the 12th scholarship player on the UK team for this coming season.
The 19-year-old (soon to be 20) Ivisic has spent the last two seasons playing for Studentski Centar Podgorica — also known as SC Derby — of Montenegro, and boasts several standout performances playing for his native Croatia at European championships at different youth levels.
Now, he appears ready for the challenge of American college basketball.
Plenty of intrigue surrounds Ivisic’s arrival at UK.
He is set to become the tallest player at Kentucky during head coach John Calipari’s time in Lexington. Additionally, Ivisic would be only the fourth European to ever play men’s basketball at Kentucky.
The others? Lukasz Obrzut (Poland), Olivier Sarr (France) and Morakinyo Williams (England).
Given this, there was plenty of anticipation for Calipari’s first public comments about Ivisic, which came Saturday evening via social media.
“I’m excited about Big Z. He’ll be a great addition,” Calipari said in a social media post. “As excited as he is to play for us, I’m just as excited to have the opportunity to coach him. Can’t wait for you to get to campus.”
UK formally announced the addition of Ivisic to the 2023-24 UK team on Monday afternoon.
“Big Z is a dynamic and modern big who has guard-like skills but can make a major impact around the rim,” Calipari said in a news release. “Defensively, he is an elite shot blocker who moves well for being 7-foot-2 and can impact the game from the outside-in because of his ability to make threes.”
According to UK, Ivisic measures 7-foot-2 and weighs 220 pounds.
How does this compare to what Calipari said when UK’s other two (currently sidelined) big men, Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso, were first announced by Kentucky?
“The most impactful trait we can have on the defensive end is the ability to block shots, and Aaron is elite at that,” Calipari said of Bradshaw in a UK release last November. “He also has all of the tools that a versatile big in today’s game needs. Aaron’s motor continues to improve, he has great size and mobility. As a 7-footer, he can change the game on both ends of the court. He has a high ceiling and has only begun to scratch the surface of the kind of player he can be.”
“Ugonna has unbelievable natural athleticism and great instincts for a young player. He is going to be able to defend at the rim and is a terrific finisher,” Calipari said of Onyenso in a UK release from August 2022.
Like Ivisic, Onyenso was also a late addition last summer to the 2022-23 Kentucky squad.
UK’s announcement of the addition of Ivisic also featured a quote from the big man.
“I decided to come to Kentucky because it is the best spot in the U.S. for talented basketball players,” Ivisic said. “Coach Calipari is a Hall of Fame coach that has helped more players get to the NBA than anyone else.”
In addition to Calipari’s comments, praise for Ivisic came via Jonathan Givony, an NBA Draft and basketball scouting expert for ESPN.
Givony described Ivisic as “one of the top European prospects in his age group” in an article published earlier this month following Ivisic’s commitment.
“Ivisic is a formidable shot-blocking presence who can step out to the three-point line and finish with authority around the basket,” Givony wrote. “He brings excellent mobility for a player of his height.”
Ivisic entered and withdrew his name from consideration for both the 2022 and 2023 NBA Draft, which means he will be unable to withdraw his name the next time he enters for draft consideration.
Despite being projected as a second-round selection in the 2023 NBA Draft, Ivisic is considered a player with legit pro potential.
In a 2024 NBA Mock Draft published by ESPN’s Givony and Jeremy Woo in late June, Ivisic was name dropped as evidence of the increased depth the 2024 draft class now has.
According to that mock draft — which is the most recent one published by ESPN — Kentucky is projected to have five draft selections: Justin Edwards (No. 5), D.J. Wagner (No. 7), Onyenso (No. 23), Bradshaw (No. 32) and Rob Dillingham (No. 36).
The arrival of Ivisic will also boost the number of college freshmen on the 2023-24 UK team to eight, although Ivisic is clearly older, and more experienced, than most first-year arrivals.
This story was originally published August 12, 2023 at 6:01 PM.
