Kentucky basketball had each a superb offseason and a horrible offseason, one marred by accidents to huge males whereas within the course of looking like a well-constructed team in winning a gold medal earlier this summer time on the GLOBL JAM. John Calipari and his employees addressed the previous to maintain momentum of the latter on Tuesday, touchdown a dedication from Croatian huge man Zvonimir Ivisic to present UK a key piece of measurement and depth for its frontcourt in 2023-24.
“I acquired the supply for a scholarship by Coach Calipari to attend the College of Kentucky,” Ivisic introduced on social media. “I am excited to inform that I accepted the scholarship and can play there subsequent season.”
He selected Kentucky over reported curiosity from Memphis.
Ivisic is a 7-foot-1, 220-pound heart who profiles as a do-it-all huge able to enjoying each inside and outside. On the FIBA circuit this summer time within the U20s, he shot 74.1% from 2-point vary and 34.4% from 3-point vary on 32 complete makes an attempt throughout seven video games. He additionally added 11.4 factors and 5.3 rebounds per recreation.
Kentucky was smacked with the damage bug to its frontcourt repeatedly this offseason with five-star freshman Aaron Bradshaw and second-year breakout candidate Ugonna Onyenso each sustaining decrease physique accidents that required surgical procedure. Bradshaw’s damage pressured UK to exit and add Tre Mitchell from West Virginia out of the portal, and Onyenso’s damage in the course of the GLOBL JAM journey prompted UK to once more add to its ranks with each he and Bradshaw out indefinitely.
Kentucky was the most important riser in Gary Parrish’s most recent Top 25 (And 1) rankings of the offseason, leaping eight spots after touchdown Mitchell and sitting comfortably within the prime 25 at No. 17. With Ivisic and Mitchell in tow to enrich the hopeful returns of Bradshaw and Onyenso, UK ought to have sufficient measurement to buttress a guard-heavy roster led by five-star newcomers Justin Edwards and DJ Wagner, who determine to be key items for the Wildcats this season.
