Who Is Zvonimir Ivisic? Age, Height, Weight, Wiki, Family, Biography & Stats

Zvonimir Ivisic (born 9 August 2003, Age: 20 years old) is a rising star in the world of basketball, who has made headlines for his impressive height, skills, and potential. He is currently playing for the Kentucky Wildcats, one of the most prestigious college basketball teams in the United States. He is also a member of the Croatian national team and has represented his country in several international tournaments.

Early Life and Family

Zvonimir Ivisic was born on August 9, 2003, in Vitez, a town in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is the son of Mladenko and Marina Ivišić, who are both of Croatian descent. He has three siblings: Nikola, Jelena, and Tomislav. His family moved to Vodice, a coastal town in Croatia when he was a child.

Ivisic grew up playing basketball with his brothers and friends, and soon developed a passion for the sport. He joined the local club KK Vodice, where he honed his skills and attracted the attention of scouts and coaches. He also attended the Sibenik Sports High School, where he balanced his academic and athletic pursuits.

Zvonimir Ivisic Wiki/Bio

Girlfriend & Relationship

Zvonimir Ivisic is in a relationship with Katarina Džaferović, a handball player who plays for the Croatian national team and the club RK Podravka. The couple met in high school and have been dating since 2022. They often share their photos and messages on social media, where they have a large fan following.

Basketball Career

Ivisic started his professional basketball career in 2021 when he signed with SC Derby, a team based in Montenegro. He played in the Montenegrin Basketball League and the ABA Derby, a regional competition for young players from the former Yugoslavia. He averaged 12.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in his debut season, earning the Rookie of the Year award.

In 2022, he continued to play for SC Derby and also made his debut for the Croatian national team at the FIBA U20 European Championship. He was one of the standout players of the tournament, averaging 16.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game. He led Croatia to the bronze medal and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

In 2023, he decided to pursue his college education and basketball career in the United States and committed to play for the Kentucky Wildcats, a powerhouse program coached by John Calipari. He joined the team in August 2023, after obtaining a student visa and completing the necessary paperwork. However, his eligibility was uncertain, as he had played professionally in Europe for two seasons. The NCAA, the governing body of college sports, launched an investigation into his case and delayed his clearance for several months.

Zvonimir Ivisic finally received the green light from the NCAA on January 20, 2024, just hours before the Wildcats’ game against the Georgia Bulldogs. He made his college debut in the game, and had a stellar performance, scoring 13 points, grabbing five rebounds, dishing out two assists, blocking three shots, and stealing two balls. He helped Kentucky win the game 105-96 and received a standing ovation from the fans.

Since then, he has been a regular starter and contributor for the Wildcats, who are ranked No. 8 in the nation. He is averaging 14.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game, and shooting 62.3 percent from the field. He is considered one of the best prospects for the 2025 NBA draft and has drawn comparisons to NBA legends such as Dirk Nowitzki, Kristaps Porzingis, and Yao Ming.

Net worth and Income Sources

There is no official information about Ivisic’s net worth, but he likely earns some income from his basketball career and his NIL deals. Ivisic played professionally for SC Derby in the Montenegrin Basketball League and ABA Derby for two seasons from 2021 to ’23, where he received a stipend of around $200-$300 per month.

He also went through the NBA pre-draft process in both 2022 and 2023 before withdrawing his name. He committed to play for Kentucky in August 2023, and became eligible to play by the NCAA in January 2024. As a college athlete, he can benefit from the NIL rules that allow him to profit from his name, image and likeness.

Physical Attributes

Zvonimir Ivisic is one of the tallest and longest players in college basketball, standing at 7 feet 2 inches (2.19 meters) and weighing 234 pounds (106 kilograms). He has a wingspan of 7 feet 8 inches (2.34 meters), and a standing reach of 9 feet 6 inches (2.90 meters). He wears the jersey number 15 for the Wildcats and plays the center position.

Ivisic is not only tall, but also agile, mobile, and coordinated for his size. He is an efficient interior finisher, who can convert catch-and-finish opportunities at the rim with an impressive combination of power and touch. He has a soft touch around the basket and can use either hand to score. He is also a capable shooter from mid-range and beyond the arc and has a smooth and consistent stroke. He can stretch the floor and create space for his teammates with his shooting ability.

Playing Style

Ivisic is also a dominant rebounder and defender, who uses his height, length, and timing to control the boards and protect the paint. He is a prolific shot-blocker, who can alter or reject shots from any angle. He is also a smart and alert defender, who can read the game and anticipate the opponent’s moves. He can switch and guard multiple positions and has quick feet and lateral movement to stay in front of his man.

Ivisic is not only a physical specimen, but also a skilled and versatile player, who can play inside and outside, and contribute to various aspects of the game. He is a good passer, who can find his teammates with accurate and creative passes. He is also a good ball-handler, who can dribble and drive to the basket. He has a high basketball IQ and a good understanding of the game. He is a team player, who plays with energy, passion, and unselfishness.

Records and Stats

Zvonimir Ivisic has impressive records and stats both at the international and college level. He debuted for Croatia’s U16 Euro Championship team in 2019, where he averaged 13.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, and recorded eight blocks in one game, the second most ever in the tournament’s history. He also played for Croatia’s U20 Euro Championship team in 2023, where he averaged 11.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, and showed his versatility as a shooter and a passer.

At the college level, Ivisic made his debut for Kentucky in January 2024, after being cleared by the NCAA. He had a remarkable first game, scoring 13 points, grabbing five rebounds, blocking three shots, and making four long jumpers, including three from 3-point range. He also received a flagrant foul and a technical foul for doing a chin-up on the rim after a dunk. He has since become a key contributor for the Wildcats, averaging 9.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game, and shooting 57.1% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range.

Nationality, Ethnicity and Religion

Zvonimir Ivisic holds both Croatian and Bosnian citizenship. His ethnicity is likely Croatian, as he has represented Croatia in international competitions. His religion is unknown, but most Croatians are Roman Catholic.

Controversies

Ivisic has faced some controversies regarding his eligibility to play college basketball in the US. He had to go through a long and frustrating process with the University of Kentucky admissions office, which delayed his arrival to Lexington until October 2023. The admissions office claimed that Ivisic was not proficient in English, despite him speaking four languages and passing an English proficiency test. 

He also had to take a TOEFL test, which he scored high in all sections except reading. He was finally admitted to UK as a student, but then he had to wait for the NCAA to clear his amateur status, as he had played professionally in Europe and entered the NBA draft twice. He also received a stipend of $200-$300 per month from his European teams, which the NCAA considered too much.

He was finally cleared to play by the NCAA in January 2024, after months of waiting and worrying. His eligibility case sparked a lot of frustration and support from his coach, teammates and fans, who launched a campaign to hang a billboard outside the NCAA headquarters with the slogan #FreeBigZ.

Shines for Kentucky

Zvonimir Ivisic, a 7-foot-2 freshman center from Croatia, has been making headlines in the college basketball world since he was cleared to play by the NCAA on January 20, 2024. Ivisic, who was considered one of the best international prospects entering college basketball this season, had to wait for three months to get his eligibility status resolved by the NCAA, which had questions about his amateur status since he played for a professional team in Europe for the past two seasons.

But the wait was worth it for Ivisic and the Kentucky Wildcats, who are ranked No. 8 in the country and have a 13-3 record. Ivisic made his debut for the Wildcats on January 21, 2024, against Georgia, and he did not disappoint. He scored 13 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out two assists, blocked three shots, and stole two balls in 18 minutes of action. He also showed his versatility and skill by making two 3-pointers and a dunk. He helped Kentucky win the game 105-96 and earn the praise of his coach, teammates, and fans.

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