re: Arkansas Basketball 2024 (and beyond) Recruiting Thread TR G DJ Wagner Commits

Posted on 4/15/24 at 5:11 pm to Hubbhogg

Posted by spehog

Little Rock

Member since Mar 2011

1011 posts

Posted on 4/15/24 at 5:11 pm to Hubbhogg

Finally got one

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BREAKING: 7-foot-2 Kentucky transfer center Zvonimir Ivisic AKA “Big Z” has committed to Arkansas, following John Calipari to Fayetteville, he tells @On3sports.

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Posted by BallHawg10

On the Flagship - Fayetteville

Member since Mar 2011

4134 posts

Posted on 4/15/24 at 5:18 pm to spehog

Grades at 95 (out of 100) in Adam Ford’s model. Projects to be an absolute stud.

quote:
Zvonimir Ivisic (95). This 7’2 Kentucky transfer from Croatia hit the portal and has been strongly linked to Calipari. He didn’t get eligible until January 20th, so the Cats had to carefully work him into their rotation, but his potential is off the charts. He’s a weapon on offense, where he can step back and knock down 3-pointers (37%) or draw fouls, all without turning it over much. He’s also a major shot-blocker and very good rebounder. Kentucky’s 130.2 team offensive efficiency with him on the floor was the best on the team by a large margin.

This post was edited on 4/15/24 at 5:19 pm

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Posted by RazorHawg

Member since Aug 2013

24325 posts

Posted on 4/15/24 at 5:42 pm to spehog

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quote:
The Arkansas basketball team has received its first transfer commitment of the offseason, as Kentucky big man Zvonimir "Big Z" Ivisic has commited to the Razorbacks according to a report from Joe Tipton.

Led by former Wildcats head coach John Calipari in Lexington, Kentucky, Ivisic made the move to Fayetteville following Arkansas' hiring of the Hall of Famer on Wednesday.

A native of Vodice, Croatia, Ivisic averaged 11.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game during the FIBA U20 European Championship prior to traveling overseas to Kentucky.

Ivisic didn't become eligible for the Wildcats until Jan. 20, the same day that he made his season debut against the Georgia Bulldogs. In just 16 minutes of action, the stretch forward lit up Rupp Arena with 13 points, five rebounds, three blocks and two assists on 5-of-7 shooting and 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arch.

He scored double-digits against Vanderbilt (11 points, seven rebounds), Alabama (18 points, five rebounds, four blocks) and Arkansas (12 points, nine rebounds). For the season, Ivisic averaged 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while shooting 57.7% from the field, 37.5% from beyond the arch and 77.3% from the charity stripe in just 15 games — 14 of which came against SEC competiton.

According to KenPom, Ivisic had a 63.5 effective field goal percentage, a 66.5 true shooting percentage, a 10.5 offensive rebounding percentage, a 19.1 defensive rebounding, a 11.8 block percentage and an offensive rating of 116.9.

For reference, Arkansas forward Makhi Mitchell performed better in only offensive rating (120.5) and true shooting percentage (67.5%) while Jalen Graham and Trevon Brazile ranked worse in every category.

Following the addition of Ivisic, the Razorbacks now sit with one scholarship player on their roster.

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quote:
Former Kentucky forward Zvonimir Ivisic is following head coach John Calipari to Arkansas, via the NCAA Transfer Portal. Ivisic initially entered the transfer portal on April 13.

The 7-foot-2 Croatian product only spent one season with the Wildcats, tallying 15 appearances. He averaged 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 57.7% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc.

Ivisic only played in a fraction of Kentucky’s games due to the NCAA not clearing him to play until Jan. 20. In his first game, “Big Z” erupted for 13 points in only 16 minutes, draining three 3-pointers in the process.

Ivisic also boasted a standout performance in Kentucky’s blowout 117-95 win over Alabama, recording a career-high 18 points on 7-11 shooting. It’s no surprise to see Ivisic tag along with Calipari to Arkansas.

Less than 24 hours after Arkansas officially named Calipari the program’s next head coach, Ivisic posted a photo of the 65-year-old in Arkansas attire to his Instagram. Calipari was key in helping Ivisic receive eligibility to play.

“It’s not fair,” Calipari said about the NCAA’s hesitancy to grant Ivisic eligibility. “For him to go through what he did to get into school for two months, what he’s doing academically, how he is as a teammate. Every day he walks in, he says, ‘Hey, Coach Cal!’ Yesterday, or two days ago, I said to him, you know, I just want you to know I feel bad because I don’t like how you were treated from the beginning to now. And he said, ‘Coach, I’m good. I’m good. I appreciate you saying it, but I’m good.’ He’s just a great kid and he deserves it.

“Look, if it were your son, how would you feel right now? He just turned 20. He was a 19-year-old, 20, playing amateur basketball over there. They can make it however they want to make it. ‘But, well, what about this? What about that?’ I get it. I get it. But, you know, he’s a great kid that deserves it.”

Now, Zvonimir Ivisic will have a chance to shine for a full season. Further, he’ll be surrounded by a similar environment.

Per Matt Norlander at CBS Sports, all of Calipari’s assistants with Kentucky are expected to follow him to the Razorback bench. That includes Orlando Antigua, Chin Coleman and Chuck Martin as assistants, along with Bruiser Flint as a special assistant.