Ex-Kentucky big man follows John Calipari
Former Kentucky big man Zvonimir Ivišić is John Calipari’s first Arkansas commitment
Zvonimir Ivišić, a former Kentucky center, will move to Arkansas to reunite with coach John Calipari. Ivišić is Arkansas’ first pledge under new coach Calipari, who previously spent 15 seasons at Kentucky.
Landing the Croatian big man marks a splashy start to what will be a busy couple of months of roster building for Calipari, who joked on Wednesday that “there is no team” at Arkansas. Calipari has a lot of work to do now that the Razorbacks’ entire 2023-24 squad is either out of eligibility, in the transfer portal, or heading pro after coach Eric Musselman left for USC.
Despite missing the first 16 games of the season due to NCAA clearance, Ivišić demonstrated promising performance for the Wildcats. During his debut game against Georgia on Jan. 20, the 7-foot-2 stretch big man ended with 13 points, five rebounds, three blocks, and two assists, while making three of four 3-pointers in 16 minutes.
Despite a promising start, Ivišić struggled to maintain consistency in subsequent weeks. Ivišić possesses a rare combination of size, skill, and shooting ability, making him a promising college basketball starter.
— Zvonimir Ivisic (@zvonimir_ivisic) April 15, 2024
With 1.3 shots blocked per game in 11.7 minutes, Ivišić has the potential to become a top shot blocker in the SEC and beyond. Physical maturity will be critical to his future development. With a full offseason to spend in Arkansas’ strength and conditioning program, Ivišić should acquire the necessary strength to bruise on the block in a tough conference.
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