John Calipari on Zvonimir Ivišić finally being admitted to UK

By now, you’ve heard the good news that Zvonimir Ivišić has been admitted to the University of Kentucky. While there are still a few hurdles to cross — getting his student visa, receiving clearance from the NCAA, etc. — Big Z has tackled the biggest one, passing his English proficiency exam to finally be accepted by the UK admissions office. It’s been a long and arduous process, fraught with frustration on all sides, especially from John Calipari and the Kentucky coaching staff.

In another good sign this saga is coming to a close, Calipari is speaking out. In a statement on Twitter, Calipari said he is proud of Big Z for “overcoming all obstacles” and that the addition of the Croatian seven-footer will expand UK’s reach internationally. It’s probably the exact same pitch he’s been making to the admissions office for months.

I can’t tell you how happy I am with how this all turned out. The work was done by Big Z and his family. For him to be persistent and keep fighting was so impressive and it showed how badly he wanted to be a part of our team! He overcame all obstacles and just wouldn’t be deterred.

When we started recruiting Z, my mind started moving to how we can help our University become even more prominent worldwide. This basketball program is a global brand and now we can continue to open new avenues for students to come to the University of Kentucky.

Let’s continue to pursue some of the best basketball players in the world and showcase what a great institution the University of Kentucky is!

John Calipari, Twitter

I can’t tell you how happy I am with how this all turned out. The work was done by Big Z and his family. For him to be persistent and keep fighting was so impressive and it showed how badly he wanted to be a part of our team! He overcame all obstacles and just wouldn’t be…

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) October 5, 2023

Ivišić told Jonathan Givony that he will arrive in Lexington in the next couple of days and could participate in Kentucky’s Pro Day, which is set for October 11. There, we’ll finally get to see Big Z in action, along with the rest of the Cats. Big Blue Madness is two days later. I can already hear the roar in the crowd when Big Z is introduced.

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Calipari on Big Z the player

Ivišić committed to Kentucky on August 1 and signed with the program a few weeks later, after which Calipari shared his thoughts on the big man’s skills.

“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 press 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 3s. As excited as he is to play for us, I’m just as excited to have the opportunity to coach him. We can’t wait to get him to campus to get integrated with our team and our culture.”

Ivišić averaged 11.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game in the FIBA U20 European Championship. He also averaged 5.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game playing for SC Derby in the Adriatic League.

“I decided to come to Kentucky because it is the best spot in the U.S. for talented basketball players,” Ivišić said. “Coach Calipari is a Hall of Fame coach that has helped more players get to the NBA than anyone else.”

Pretty amazing that after all of this, we could finally see Ivišić play basketball in a Kentucky jersey next week.

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