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HMFFL wrote:7'2" ZVONIMIR IVISIC on Kentucky is playing his first College game and he looks like a lottery pick.

Kentucky’s Zvonimir Ivisic thrills in dominant debut



The technical term for Kentucky’s roster now: embarrassment of riches.

John Calipari already had the most potent offense in America, and now the Wildcats add a 7-foot-2 center who protects the rim, passes with aplomb and splashes 3-pointers? Oh, come on.

Throw tempered expectations out the window after this. In a surreal scene, Ivisic checked in with 16 minutes to go in the first half against Georgia and had a block, assist, steal and another assist in his first two and a half minutes of college basketball. But he was just getting started.

Ivisic became an instant Croatian sensation when he checked back in with 8:20 to go in the half and swished a 3, blocked another shot, snared a rebound, splashed a long 2-pointer, then another 3, then another. Four straight jumpers, nothing but net. He scored 11 points in less than three minutes. Ivisic blew the game open for Kentucky — the Cats were plus-20 in his eight first-half minutes — and the crowd nearly blew the roof off the building.

All told, Ivisic finished with 13 points, five boards, three blocks, two steals and two assists in 16 minutes Saturday night. He just missed one spinning slam dunk attempt that would’ve brought the house down and did connect on a two-hand jam that gave UK 100 points with still five minutes to play.

Ivisic, despite solid stats and highlights from his European playing career, was a relative mystery. He also didn’t even participate in the shootaround Saturday morning, didn’t work on any of the Georgia game plan with his teammates, because word that the NCAA cleared Ivisic didn’t arrive until early afternoon.

Zvonimir Ivisic (Studentski Centar, C, 2003)



At 7'2", Ivisic made some eye-opening plays at the U20 European Championships with his shooting, ball-handling, mobility and vertical pop for finishing and rim protection. He hit 11 threes in seven games, including some off the dribble, while also demonstrating some grab-and-go ability and blocking 3.4 shots in just 19.4 minutes. A larger role this year in the Adriatic League could lead to some wild highlights and a big spike in 2024 draft buzz.

Jamaaliver wrote:He is a pure project. Likely a few years away from rotation minutes in the NBA. (I really hope he goes back to Kentucky for another season of development.)

He is pretty weak and isn't an inside banger, even at 7'2".

But the kid has serious potential down the line. He spaces the floor, protects the rim and is a pretty solid passer out of the post.

if you can get him in the 2nd round, you go out of your way to make it happen.

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