FIBA Photo
The Kentucky basketball offseason drama never seems to end.
It created a huge buzz when 7-2 Croatian Zvonimir Ivišić announced in mid-August that he would join coach John Calipari’s team. The UK coach welcomed Big Z on Twitter and a few days later UK officially announced his signing. Now he is listed on the UK roster as No. 44, the same number that Kentucky all-time leading scorer Dan Issel wore.
But Ivisic is not yet in Lexington — or the United States — even though classes have already started at Kentucky.
Word leaked that UK admissions had not admitted him because he had not passed a mandatory English equivalency test. He has reportedly passed another English test, does speak four languages and did interviews leading up to the NBA draft in English.
The speculation has made it look like it is Kentucky’s admissions office that is keeping Ivisic from getting a student visa so he can enter the U.S. and that is now contemplating going to another school where he will be accepted.
I might be able to guess where the information about Ivisic’s status leaked and maybe Kentucky officials did too since UK spokesperson Jay Blanton took to social media Tuesday to comment on the situation without mentioning any specific names.
Here is what Blanton posted on social media:
“Unfortunately, misinformation is being perpetuated regarding the admission status of someone wishing to attend the University of Kentucky. The truth is members of our university — from our athletics department to our administration and all other units — are working together efficiently and in a manner that is consistent with the institution’s admissions standards. These are often complex issues, with multiple aspects to them, and they require many people, working to do the right thing for an individual wishing to attend the university. That is what we are doing. Spreading unfounded rumors helps no one.”
Various media outlets have questioned UK’s logic for not admitting him even though none of us know exactly why the situation has got to this point or even know what the “misinformation” is out there.
National FoxSports Radio host Aaron Torres posted this on X (Twitter) Tuesday:
Gotta say: Kentucky not admitting an international recruit over an English language exam, when:
1. He has been cleared by the NCAA
2. Passed a different English exam
3. Literally did interviews *in English* during the pre draft process last year
Is ALL-TIME absurd?
Absurd or not, Ivisic is not yet on the UK campus and whether he will or will not remains a mystery.
14 Responses
If he goes to Duke, Michigan, Auburn or another school, Sh*t will hit the fan! There is no excuse for this to happen. Thinking about donating to UK, hold that payment until this is resolved. We used to have to worry about the NCAA, now it is our own University.
Agree completely man ! Ridiculous !
Of course we all don’t know what the hell is going on , but I smell something fishy about this.
Pathetic of UK admissions department. I’m sure there’s a lot of students down there that have language difficulties well hell Kentucky folks have language difficulties
This makes absolutely no sense to be. I have read a few articles about this and there has to be something else going on here. More than they are saying. At least I hope so. Otherwise it is disappointing!
just hard to understand why something so simple is now so complicated
This drama makes me wonder about Freedom Canter. Maybe that situation wasn’t the NCAA but UK admissions. This reminds me of how mysteriously a Fed Ex package just happened to open with the big amount of 5K to Chris Mills’ dad in ‘87 after playing two seasons with the team.
This issue will effect the repetitions of the UK. Athletics programs. and will most certainly effect the entire State fan base, season ticket patrons and the Coaching staff Far into the future !!
It has already drawn the wrong kind of publicity for our UK program. Put an end to this matter once and for all before our reputation is ruined beyond repair. WE ARE THE PROUD with the most faithful fan base in college basketball, ruin it!!!!🏆🏆🏆
There has to be something more going on with this otherwise its one of the most ignorant things I’ve ever heard!
It’s Caliparis responsibility to make sure Big Z gets admitted to school in a timely fashion. Instead, he’s been running around New York City and getting on ESPN trying to convince people that he knows what he’s doing. His incompetence has been apparent on the court lately. Now he’s showing it off the court. If Big Z goes to another school that should be the final nail in Caliparis coffin. Good riddance!!!
Need read the facts, this has nothing to do with Cal of not being here yet. It’s the university Admission office that’s held him back. As matter of fact Cal has gone to the school president to get this clear. but the man refuse to help.
Cal is responsible for everything that goes on in the basketball program. He was NOT on top of this situation
We may have a double agent working in our own administration. It is easy to throw a wrench into recruiting a kid that can be hard to trace back to the source. We didn’t even try to fight the Mills incident and never understood what went wrong with Canter. Me thinks a Louisville lover has infiltrated our ranks. If this is true, what’s worse is that Calipari has no clue about it…nor does Barnhart.
That’s why he’s not getting any help from Barnhart or the UK president. They don’t want to do his job for him at the last minute. I don’t blame them.