Random Croatians Had No Clue About Who Zvonimir Ivisic Is

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Kentucky fan Tom McCauley already had a vacation trip scheduled to Croatia when news broke that 7-2 Zvonimir Ivisic was going to join the University of Kentucky basketball program.

Ivisic was seen as either insurance in case Aaron Bradshaw and/or Ugonna Onyenso could not play because of injuries or a rare 7-footer with skills on the floor who could lead UK to the Final Four.

Of course, that was over a month ago and there’s still no definitive clarification on whether Ivisic will or will not be at UK. Both coach John Calipari and UK officials announced his signing but he’s not been admitted to school and remains overseas waiting to see what happens.

McCauley told me he would ask random folks during his trip what they knew about Ivisic, who twice put his name into the NBA draft and is considered a possible first-round draft pick in 2024.

“I was surprised no one seemed to know or have any interest in Ivisic. Our driver to our hotel the first night was an athletic looking 6-4 male. He was a soccer player and going into his first year in college. He had no interest in basketball,” McCauley said.

“Our driver on the second day to Bosnia was a young father of three. He was a soccer player, referee and a track enthusiast. He implied Ivisic’s name sounded familiar but had nothing new to say.”

McCauley’s next interaction came at a rental car agency. The agent was “into American football” but had never heard of Ivisic.

“All three guys were over 6-2 and would have been a top pick in a pick-up basketball game just based on appearances,” McCauley said.

“On our flight from Zagreb to Paris a team of about 20 members boarded. I talked to one of them. They were a handball team. Never heard of Ivisic.”

McCauley said he would compare his trip to a European traveling to Ashland, Covington and Owensboro and asking about a top soccer player in Danville.

“I bet no one would know him (the soccer player from Danville),” McCauley said.

He also shared this nugget that was a bit of a surprise considering the European impact on international basketball.

“I didn’t see one basketball hoop in Croatia.”