Scout's Take: What Kentucky is getting in Zvonimir Ivisic

The stats and highlights are readily available on 7-foot-2 Croatian standout Zvonimir Ivisic, who will head to the United States and play for John Calipari at Kentucky in 2023-24. The versatile big announced his commitment to the Wildcats on Tuesday, an “easy” decision that allows him to suit up in the “best spot in the U.S. for talented basketball players,” he said.

Ivisic averaged 7.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in just 14.5 minutes per contest in 33 games in 2022-23 playing for SC Derby (Studentski Centar Podgorica) of the ABA League. He followed it up by averaging 11.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 blocks in just 19.4 minutes per game in the U20 European Championships, knocking down 34 percent of his 3-point attempts overall. On the surface, he’s a modern big capable of stretching the floor with mobility and length — a clear draft talent.

And he’s tested the waters twice now, working out for teams in 2022 and 2023 before withdrawing on both occasions. Now, he’s hoping a move to the United States to play college basketball at Kentucky gives him one final push to put him in prime draft position next summer.

But what can fans expect from him on the floor during his time in Lexington? What is a realistic draft outlook for the intriguing prospect? KSR spoke with NBA and international pro scouts on the condition of anonymity so they could provide their unfiltered thoughts on Kentucky’s newest addition.

Unicorn with lottery upside, but “a little too soft”

“Zvonimir is a unicorn,” one NBA scout said. “He effortlessly shoots the three ball from range and is a fluid athlete that can run the floor like a gazelle and is super agile for a kid his size. … He is a really good athlete and a really good leaper.”

The physical tools are clear, but again, there’s a reason why he pulled his name out of the draft this summer.

“His defensive footwork suggests that he will be able to corral the pick-and-roll, but lacks general feel and technique that makes this possible at this time,” the scout added. “Skill-wise, I am not convinced that he will be able to handle as freely as you see on tape with his national team and for his club team. Handle very much still would need to improve to be a guy that puts it on the floor on the next level.”

And while his length is a major asset, he’s still got some filling out to do, especially to compete with SEC size and physicality.

“(Ivisic) needs to add strength to both his upper and lower body to be able to handle the physicality of the SEC and beyond,” they said. “He is very much so on the skinny side and has a problem getting pushed around. He is so long and lanky that even with his lack of strength he still manages to block shots under and around the rim after getting outmuscled.”

NBA teams would also like to see him toughen up before the next draft cycle, one scout adding “I worry that he is a little too soft” while questioning Ivisic’s passion for the game.

“There is a general assumption in our circles that Zvonimir is just not very interested in basketball and doesn’t put in the necessary work to be great,” the scout said. “Personally, I was much higher on him as a prospect during the 2022 draft cycle where he had a solo workout during the combine that really stuck out to scouts.”

But that doesn’t mean he can’t get there. For now, the scout gives him a second-round grade in 2024, somewhere in the 35-45 pick range. If things click for him in Lexington, though?

“He’s a lottery talent.”

Kentucky’s five-out offense helps his chances

Ivisic has had his fair share of highs and lows finding his footing as a draftable prospect in recent years, flashes of brilliance mixed with stretches of inconsistency. He missed extended time with mono this past season, an obvious setback, but also instances of a sputtering motor when healthy.

“A classic tease, but he’s got a world of talent. It’s overused, but he’s kind of like a Kristaps Porzingis unicorn-type. A really good run-and-jump athlete who moves extremely well,” an international pro scout said. “He’s had a few monster games, but every time you start to think, ‘Wow, this kid is special,’ he’ll revert back with a couple of duds. His motor can be iffy and he can be soft at times, too. Still trying to get a feel for him. It’s no mistake you can see the flashes.”

There’s optimism regarding his move to the United States to play college basketball, specifically for Coach Cal at Kentucky. Ivisic works best with spacing and playmaking around him, something the Wildcats have and put on full display in Toronto at the GLOBL JAM in July. The idea is he’ll be in better position to hit his ceiling in Lexington than overseas another year.

“I’m a little down on him because he’s inconsistent, but I do think getting him out of this environment and putting him at Kentucky, he may thrive in Calipari’s spread-out system,” the scout added. “He can be really good. If he had stayed in the draft this year, somebody would have taken him in the second round and stashed him. You see the talent, it’s just not all there yet and inconsistent right now.

“I used to be really down on kids like this, but if you put him in an environment that’s kind of sink or swim, he might excel.”

Their draft grade?

“You’re probably looking at early second round, but late first if he has a good year.”

Ready to make an impact

It’s not going to be a boom-or-bust situation with Ivisic, though, another international pro scout believes. Sure, he’s got his flaws, but there’s just too much to work with to believe he won’t be a productive college player at Kentucky at minimum.

“I really liked what I saw from Ivisic this summer at the FIBA U20 Europe, the combination of elite size and flashes of perimeter offense makes him a really intriguing NBA prospect,” the scout said. “I do think there are some concerns with his profile as an NBA player — namely his perimeter defense, as he’s not always able to keep up with quicker guards when he has to defend one-on-one, so you’d probably have to scheme around that limitation on defense.

“But with his size and skillset, I think at the very least you’re getting a reliable shot blocker and play finisher at the rim who can also step out and shoot threes. And at 7’2″ that’s super valuable at the college level.”

Another thing to remember: he’s not exactly young. This isn’t another inexperienced teenager playing against grown men for the first time in a live game setting. Ivisic has played two full seasons of pro-level basketball.

The learning curve may not be as steep as many anticipate when he arrives on campus and plays his first games at the collegiate level.

“I think one aspect that might be overlooked is that with Ivisic, you’re getting a player who certainly has a high ceiling due to his unique profile, but at the same time, you’re getting an experienced player,” the scout said. “He’s turning 20 years old in August and he has two full seasons of experience at the professional level, which he split between the Adriatic League and the Montenegrin League. So it’s not like you’re getting a player who is a complete project.

“I’d feel good about him being able to make an impact at some point during his freshman year.”