The Latest on Zvonimir Ivisic, the Croatian Big Z, and Kentucky

This is your old friend Matt, who the good folks at On3 have let out of my cave to post here on a glorious Labor Day. It has been a long time since I have talked to you good folks on this platform but what better day to do it than two weeks after the 18th Anniversary of our first day on KentuckySportsRadio.com. Thanks to everyone who has remained a loyal fan and to all who have joined up with us since.

I write just to pass along a little update on the happenings right now with Zvonimir Ivisic, the Croatian 7-footer whose status has become the latest mystery in the world of UK Basketball land. Ten days ago I mentioned at the end of the KSR Radio Show before the Golf Scramble that I was hearing some around the program were worried about his potential academic and admission standing with the University. I said at the time that I hoped it would be worked out and many around UK still felt very confident that he would arrive and be able to play for the Cats. While this mention was met with some scorn from parts of the internet that hate stinky liberals who won’t stick to sports, it also was very much a concern and that concern has only grown.

So here is where we are today…Ivisic was supposed to arrive on campus last week and begin classes. That didn’t happen. Then it was decided (because getting someone from Croatia here with a year’s worth of belongings isn’t the simplest task) that he would arrive tomorrow and be ready to go to class on what is the final Drop/Add day of the semester at Kentucky. As of this moment on Monday morning, that isn’t certain as well.

The issue is one of UK admissions at this time blocking his admission to the school. I have been told that the University of Kentucky (and almost all major universities) requires an English equivalency exam in order to gain admission to the school. Ivisic has passed such an exam, but it isn’t one that is accepted by the University. There is another form of test that he hasn’t passed yet and at this point, the University is preventing his enrollment until it is passed. Without admission, he can’t be granted a student visa to America and as of this morning, none of these things have happened.

Sources around the program have told me that this is very frustrating to the coaching staff and those around UK Basketball. Interviews online have shown that Ivisic does speak English and many around the program can’t understand the hold up at the University level. But as of this morning, the holdup still exists. There is a belief that there can be some flexibility on the final drop/add day (which is scheduled for Tuesday), but regardless, for logistics and visa reasons, the process can’t drag on for more than a couple of days or he will miss this semester. There is also a belief that the process is becoming irritating to Ivisic himself and there are some worries that if it doesn’t get resolved ASAP, he may look in other directions immediately.

So at this point, the ball is in UK Admissions’ court and we will see what can happen. Reports of Big Z’s talent are strong and there is excitement about what he can bring to the team next year. But without a waiver or some change in the admission decision, he may not be able to find himself playing for the Cats this season.

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