Kentucky’s Zvonimir Ivisic Ruled Eligible for 2023-24 CBB Season by NCAA

Adam WellsJanuary 20, 2024

Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Kentucky’s roster is getting a late addition for the 2023-24 season after Zvonimir Ivisic was ruled eligible to play by the NCAA.

Ivisic announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he’s “free” and will be at Saturday’s game against Georgia.

Zvonimir Ivisic @zvonimir_ivisic💙 pic.twitter.com/XgejubGY24

Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart also posted about Ivisic being eligible to play, while thanking the school’s athletic staff and NCAA for their efforts to make it happen.

Mitch Barnhart @UKMitchBarnhartWe’re happy to share that @zvonimir_ivisic is eligible to play.

Want to thank everyone at the @universityofky, our @UKAthletics staff and the @NCAA for working through this. Exciting time for @UKCoachCalipari, @KentuckyMBB and #BBN. Go Big Blue! pic.twitter.com/q7sJn0Mb7D

Ivisic, who is from Croatia, committed to play for the Wildcats in August. The 20-year-old’s college eligibility was uncertain because he played professionally for SC Derby in the Montenegrin Basketball League and ABA Derby for two seasons from 2021 to ’23.

He went through the NBA pre-draft process in both 2022 and 2023 before withdrawing his name.

Ivisic’s arrival on campus in Lexington was delayed until Oct. 12 due to complications with the school’s admissions process.

Andy Patton of SI.com noted the university was able to get Ivisic enrolled in “part-of-term” courses to grant him academic eligibility, but the ongoing questions about his amateur status prevented him from being allowed to participate in Wildcats games and practices.

In a statement to Tristan Pharis of KYInsider.com on Oct. 26, Kentucky said there was a “miscommunication” regarding Ivisic’s approval from the NCAA and it would “adhere” to NCAA rules until he received full clearance.

Head coach John Calipari told reporters earlier this week they would look to “become aggressive” with the NCAA to get a resolution, one way or another, to this situation if it came to that.

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony called Ivisic a “formidable shot-blocking presence” with his 7’2″ size who is capable of attacking the basket or shooting from three-point range.

It’s unclear when Ivisic will be ready to play in games, but he’s eligible immediately whenever Calipari wants to use him.

The Wildcats are currently ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll with a 13-3 record. They have the best offense in the nation by points per game (90.8) and seventh-best by efficiency with a 120.3 rating.