A great start to the season for the Kentucky Wildcats just got better with the news that Zvonomir Ivisic, a freshman center from Croatia, has been granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA.
“Hey BBN, guess what? I’m free,” Ivisic posted on social media. “See y’all tonight at the game. Thank you for all the support. Go BBN!”
Ivisic is a 7’2 center with rim protection skills and the ability to space the floor, but after arriving in Lexington back in October the NCAA did not grant him eligibility while investigating if he had previously been paid to play while in Europe.
Coach John Calipari had expressed frustration with the process as recently as this week, and indicated he was not planning to redshirt the big man if he was granted eligibility.
“He’s just a great kid and he deserves it,” he said. “If he becomes eligible, I’ll play him. I don’t know how much.”
“Hopefully we hear something,” Calipari continued. “I just know that around the country, people are being very aggressive when it comes to different stuff with the NCAA. My hope is if this thing lingers too much longer, we become aggressive too.”
Kentucky hosts Georgia on Saturday, although it is unclear at this time if Ivisic will suit up against the Bulldogs or not.