What Zvonimir Ivisic's commitment means for Kentucky

It’s not often a college basketball program adds a 7-foot-2 unicorn with first-round draft potential to open the month of August. But most programs aren’t Kentucky, and they don’t have John Calipari.

Insert Zvonimir Ivisic, a standout big out of Croatia who announced his commitment to the Wildcats in the wee hours of the morning on Tuesday — one final piece to put a bow on a deep and talented roster capable of making real noise in 2023-24.

What does Ivisic’s commitment mean for Kentucky? KSR has the breakdown.

Frontcourt depth is no longer an issue

Things worked out in Toronto with Tre Mitchell manning the five spot and Adou Thiero and Justin Edwards rotating at the four, Jordan Burks the mop-up big. The Wildcats went small and prioritized shooting and spacing over size and rebounding. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the situation was ideal, especially long-term.

Look, Kentucky has not one, but two seven-footers who underwent foot surgeries this offseason. The program expects both Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso to be ready in time for the start of the regular season, but valuable development time is being missed and that’s working under the assumption there are no setbacks with either. Perfect recoveries are the hope and expectation, but you never know until you know. Would you rather add an insurance policy now or find out the hard way you’re short a big when games actually matter?

It certainly helps when said insurance policy has the physical tools and raw talent of Ivisic.

This is a talent addition — not replacement

While we’re on the subject of Bradshaw and Onyenso, the quick-trigger reaction for some will be that Kentucky’s pursuit of Ivisic is in some way indicative of the program’s pessimism regarding the health and eventual availability of either. That’s not the case here.

At the end of the day, Calipari saw Ivisic as a talent worth adding to help the team’s title chances, nothing more or less. The 7-2 big has clear potential as a first-round draft selection capable of wearing many hats, arguably the highest upside on the roster. If it’s a hit, it’s a likely grand slam — there’s just too much to work with to think otherwise. And when you’re a program with Final Four demands year after year, these are the types of moves you make to put the roster over the edge.

The expectation is Kentucky has all three bigs available and ready to contribute in addition to Mitchell in the frontcourt. As far as rotation and roles are concerned, let the cream rise to the top in wildly competitive practice and scrimmage settings. The best players will play — and the Wildcats have plenty to choose from.

Five-out basketball remains a priority

There was a lot to love about the way Kentucky played in Toronto — versatility, spacing and unselfishness being at the top of the list. The ball moved and you had shooting and playmaking at all five positions.

When asked about the reintegration of Onyenso and Bradshaw making his on-court debut with the Wildcats, Calipari made it clear nothing was changing regarding style of play. What worked for Kentucky then is what is going to work for the program during the season. The Hall of Fame coach wants his ‘basketball players’ on the floor, plain and simple.

“No different, we’re doing the same stuff,” Calipari said to close out the trip. “The only thing is I kinda like Tre (Mitchell) at the five. I do. I know Aaron (Bradshaw) can be the four at 7-foot-2 because he shoots, he’s skilled, he’s another basketball player. But I kinda like Tre at five. Ugo (Onyenso) can be a five, (Tre) can be a five. Adou (Thiero) proved that, ‘Look, if that guy doesn’t bang, I can be the four.’ But the skill of Justin (Edwards) at three, being able to shoot, being able to pass and get to the rim.”

This isn’t Calipari adding a plodding big who simply takes up space and kills ball movement as a boat anchor in the post. Read that description for Bradshaw: “Can be the four at 7-foot-2 because he shoots, he’s skilled, he’s another basketball player.” It’s the same description for Ivisic, the two working well together or even staggered with Mitchell on the floor. Go big, go small, whatever, you’re adding another player capable of dribbling, passing and shooting. Nothing about the team’s identity has to change by adding the Croatian big.

Is it a chemistry fit?

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

You couldn’t ask for a more cohesive product leaving Toronto. The Wildcats shared the ball and had fun doing it. They made shots, played hard, looked for the extra pass, fought defensively — just hooped. The vibes were good, better than most of what we saw last season. And the word behind the scenes was that the players lived in the gym, shared a commitment of continued growth and title aspirations.

So why add a flashy piece known for being a volume shooter with turnover concerns? Someone who could look to get his rather than playing selfless, team-first basketball — on paper, at least. Ivisic has a reputation for going to the beat of his own drum across all settings: wild and erratic, loose and careless. His flashes are brilliant, but does it contribute to winning basketball?

Calipari says yes, a gamble he’s happy to take. And it’s undoubtedly the right call. The Kentucky coaching staff has done its vetting with this one, the program’s top-secret mission weeks in the making. Ivisic has real talent, someone capable of turning a very good roster into a great one. And it’s a complementary piece, a plug-and-play fit with what is working with this group already. Same actions and sets, offensive philosophies, but more talent added to the pot.

The Hall of Fame coach wouldn’t add another cook to the kitchen if there was a real opportunity for disaster here. Too much on the line with this team’s goals, far more reward than risk potential. And tangible excitement about the possibilities.

An international recruiting uptick

Calipari hasn’t been shy in recent years about his interest in exploring the international route for new pieces. He’s already hit Canada hard and even discussed the possibility of signing a player from China, among other options.

Look, new assistant coach Chuck Martin heading to Serbia for the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championships wasn’t a random move for the Wildcats. It was calculated. Yes, business was being taken care of with Ivisic, but it was also part of a greater emphasis on international recruiting and the value of hitting a wildly deep pool of talent outside the States other programs such as Arizona, Gonzaga and UCLA have recruited well from. Especially in down years for recruiting when the talent is weaker like what Kentucky (and everyone else) is dealing with in 2024, expanding the search to find contending-level pieces is necessary.

Ivisic is an unbelievable start to what could be a strong international push moving forward.