Mark Pope explains plan for Andrija Jelavic transitioning to Kentucky

Kentucky knows who its 14-man roster will be for next season. The one that Big Blue Nation likely knows the least about at this point, though, is Andrija Jelavic, their Croatian commitment to the team from Serbia.

During a press conference earlier this offseason, head coach Mark Pope spoke on the addition of Jelavic. He thinks Jelavic is yet another player for the Wildcats who has everything he needs to be productive for them while understanding what all comes with now being at UK.

#BBN, meet Andrija Jelavic. pic.twitter.com/JCJonhiVc2

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) May 5, 2025

“Yeah, I can’t remember actually how he first came on my radar. You know, it’s, everything is just a — it’s beautiful madness. But my first FaceTime conversation with him was actually beautiful. I mean, from the first few minutes talking, I was like, wow, this kid is really special,” Pope said. “He loves the game of basketball. He loves to hoop, he wants to hoop all the time. He’s in an environment where he’s doing two practices a day, every day for his entire life, and so that’s kind of the background he’s coming from. He’s with a really good organization, that we know the people surrounding that organization really well.

“He knows Kentucky. You know, actually on FaceTime with him, as you know, we kind of were exchanging calls. The more and more this became real, the more emotional he got. This is a — you know, like all of us, the opportunity to be associated with Kentucky Basketball is a little bit beyond his wildest dreams. And so he was pretty emotional about the whole process.

Jelavic, a 21-year-old, 6’11” product out of KK Mega Basket, has averaged 10.8 points (50.3% FG, 32.3% 3PT), 6.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game with the program. That’s two years of pro experience, having a resume while overseas, as he now comes to the collegiate level as a freshman who’s a frontcourt option for Kentucky.

Now, with Jelavic being an international addition, there comes the process of getting him eligible to play in Lexington. KSR’s Jack Pilgrim reported on Wednesday that the Wildcats are working under the expectation that he will be on campus within the next week or so in time for the start of summer practice in the bluegrass. The assumption is that Jelavic shouldn’t have much issue with this process, having been started over the past month and a half following his commitment. Pope was of the same belief, with multiple sides working to get him to Lexington.

“Yeah, so, we’re trying to get through all the stuff, right. There’s all the stuff. We’re trying to get through it as quickly as possible,” Pope said. “He’s been incredibly cooperative, you know. His, you know, people at Mega, the people at his university, have been incredibly cooperative. The NCAA is working hard and just pushing it through as quickly as we can.”

Once all sides get that done, Jelavic will be one of the more intriguing pieces for next season’s team in the bluegrass, if for no other reason than he’s the only one who has not played in the United States. Still, he could end up being just as impactful as the rest with what he’ll be bringing to Kentucky.

“You know, I have every reason to believe that he’s going to be just as successful here as, as, you know, all of our guys are,” Pope said. “I think he’s got a chance to be a really special player. (He) can’t wait to get here and get started.”