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Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff Writer
Kentucky freshman Zvonimir Ivisic announced Monday he will follow John Calipari and transfer to Arkansas.
Ivisic entered the transfer portal over the weekend, becoming the first Kentucky player to leave the program after Mark Pope was named head coach. He’s now the first player to follow Calipari to Fayetteville.
Ivisic said in a post on social media that he met with Pope on Monday but informed him he would not be returning to Kentucky.
“I made the lifetime decision to come to college for [a] few reasons,” Ivisic wrote. “Main ones to win a national championship and go to the NBA. Monumental part of that decision was coach Cal, and no one does both of those at the same time than him. That’s why I am excited to announce that I am committing to coach Cal and Arkansas Razorbacks.”
Ivisic, a 7-foot-2 center from Croatia, had one of the most anticipated debuts of any newcomer this past season — and then “Big Z” produced an eye-opening display in his first college game.
Hours after the NCAA cleared him to play on the morning of Jan. 20, Ivisic suited up for the Wildcats against Georgia. In the first five minutes of his career, he had 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks, making all three of his 3-point attempts. Kentucky was plus-22 on the scoreboard during that five-minute stretch.
Ivisic finished the 105-96 win over Georgia with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals in 16 minutes off the bench.
In 15 games, Ivisic averaged 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, shooting 37.5% from 3-point range.
Ivisic is one of five players to transfer out of Kentucky this spring, including four since Calipari left for Arkansas. The Wildcats have also lost four of their six 2024 commitments, a group that was ranked as the No. 2 recruiting class in the country.