BB Recruiting

REPORT: Kentucky Could Potentially Add International Prospect to 2023 Roster

Published

3 years ago

July 27, 2023

FIBA Basketball

Kentucky is riding a wave of positive momentum after their Gold Medal GLOBL JAM performance, where they went 4-0 in impressive fashion. However, if you want to look for negatives, there were two glaring issues, post-defense and rebounding.

Those issues would have likely been absent if both of Kentucky’s big men, Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso, were available, but both are out with injuries. Of course, Bradshaw suffered a stress fracture in his foot amidst the high school all-star games and had to undergo surgery, and Onyenso suffered in a scrimmage the day before the Wildcat’s first GLOBL JAM contest and also had to undergo surgery.

Both players are expected to return before the start of the season, but as history has shown, recovery timelines can change when it comes to seven-footers and foot injuries. Rather than risk being without a big man, or two, KY Insider has learned that the staff is looking at potentially adding another big to the roster.

2024 Wildcat commit, Somto Cyril, has long been talked about as a potential reclass candidate and has left the door open according to an interview earlier this week. Now, there is another name to add, Zvonimir Ivisic (Croatia), who new assistant coach Chuck Martin got see this week.

Some “scuttlebutt” that Kentucky is showing some interest in a few international prospects.

Zvonimir Ivisic (Croatia)
– 7’3, 220 lbs

Abdullah Ahmed (Egypt)
– 6’10, 242 lbs— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) July 27, 2023

KY Insider’s own Tristan Pharis reported that Abdullah Ahmed (Egypt) as another option. but Kentucky Sports Radio’s Jack Pilgrim has refuted that.

Currently, 19 years old (will turn 20 on August 8th), Ivisic is a 7-foot-2, solid-framed center from Croatia. With that said, he is a non-traditional center, playing more outside-in. Ivisic has shown the potential to be a perimeter threat, albeit needs to be more consistent, and a high-caliber defender. Still raw, Ivisic can provide a unique skill set and depth to the Kentucky roster.

Ivisic is a player with the NBA level potential, which is why he has been on team radars since 2019 when he made a name for himself on Croatia’s U16 Euro Championship team. Interestingly, he withdrew from the 2022 and 2023 NBA Drafts.

As of now, Kentucky and Memphis are the only schools to have reported shown interest, but I would expect that list to grow. Brooks Hansen of 247Sports says Kentucky is the leader.

It is also important to note, as with most international players, there are questions when it comes to Ivisic’s eligibility, contracts, etc.

Related Topics:Chuck Martin International Recruiting Zvonimir Ivisic

BB Recruiting

Kentucky Basketball Receives Prediction to Land International Star Nikola Kusturica

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Kentucky basketball has taken over as the favorite for Serbian star Nikola Kusturica, a projected lottery pick in 2028, with a prediction backing the Wildcats.

Just when many believed Kentucky’s roster was complete in terms of contributing players, Mark Pope might have an ace up his sleeve.

Last week, it was reported that Kentucky was among the frontrunners to land 6-foot-8 Serbian wing Nikola Kusturica. At the time, Gonzaga was thought to be the team to beat, having a more defined role to offer, compared to Kentucky, who has one remaining roster spot and a good amount of depth in wing positions.

Since then, things have shifted in a big way.

Gonzaga received a commitment from 18-year-old French guard Juwan Ekanga-Ehawa on Sunday. By Tuesday night, the Wildcats received a Crystal Ball prediction from 247Sports’ Travis Branham to land Kusturica, with a confidence level of 7 out of 10.

The 6-foot-8 wing currently plays for FC Barcelona in Spain’s Liga ACB and EuroLeague system. He just turned 17 years old and is reportedly seeking a two-year college opportunity before becoming draft-eligible in 2028, where he is already being projected as a lottery pick.

The on-court résumé speaks for itself. In the 2025 FIBA U16 EuroBasket, he averaged 20 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game while leading Serbia to a championship and was named tournament MVP. He also helped Barcelona capture the Adidas NextGen Finals championship last month, posting 20 points and 10 rebounds in the title game against Real Madrid.

Next, Kusturica will represent Serbia in the FIBA U17 World Cup from June 27 to July 5, and a college decision could come before then.

Mark Pope is carrying a lot of momentum in recent weeks after retaining Malachi Moreno and adding Milan Momcilovic to this season’s roster, as well as landing the first top 10 prospect of his career in Ryan Hampton. If he can close on Kusturica, that would cap off the roster in a significant way and continue to change the narrative around his recruiting ability.

BB Recruiting

Kentucky Earns Commitment From No. 6 Prospect in 2027 Class Ryan Hampton

Published

2 weeks ago

June 7, 2026

Kai McClelland

Photo via UK Athletics

How about a Sunday boom in the recruiting world for you BBN?

Ryan Hampton, the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2027 class, has officially committed to the University of Kentucky! This is Mark Pope’s first top-10 prospect that he’s earned a commitment from.

Hailing from Rockwall, Texas, Hampton recently took an official visit to campus with his family, which began on Friday, June 5 and spilled into Sunday, June 7, his commitment day.

The five-star wing averaged 21.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during the most recent EYBL Circuit, playing for LivOn and Nightrydas.

Hampton was the first recruit in the 2027 to officially visit with the Wildcats, and now he’s the first to call their shot early and choose the blue and white.

Pope has signed Milan Momcilovic, the No. 2 ranked transfer, and Hampton, his first top-10 high school prospect just in the past week.

It’s been a crazy week for recruiting, with the narrative around Pope’s ability slowing fading as the top guys continue to be attracted to the Kentucky brand.

BB Recruiting

Fast Riser Big Man Yann Kamagate Receives Scholarship Offer From Kentucky

Published

1 month ago

May 18, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Fresh off the first live recruiting period of the offseason, Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats have extended their first scholarship offer of the 2028 class.

Yann Kamagate, a prospect who went from unranked to the top five in 247Sports’ most recent recruiting rankings, received an offer from the Wildcats, he confirmed to KY Insider on Monday.

“Not everyone gets the chance to be seen by greatness,” Kamagate told KY Insider. “I’m grateful for the offer from Kentucky.”

Kentucky assistant coach Mikhail McLean, who works with the Wildcats’ big men and their development, watched Kamagate first-hand this past weekend in the Adidas 3SSB circuit in Mishawaka, Indiana.

The 7-foot big man was the talk of the weekend, displaying a high motor, extreme athleticism — a reported 7-9 winspam — and great feel for the game. On the circuit, he is averaging 13.9 points, a circuit-leading 10.4 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game.

Originally from the West African country of Burkina Faso, Kamagate moved to the United States just a year ago and has only been playing basketball for three years. Now, he is challenging for the top spot in the 2028 class.

He is currently represented by former NBA player and UCLA star Luc Mbah a Moute. Which is relevant as he is currently playing for the California Adidas team, Compton Magic, and attends La Cañada Flintridge (Calif.) St. Francis.

The offer is the latest signal that Mark Pope’s staff is casting a wide and aggressive net this offseason, and targeting players whose trajectories are trending sharply upward. Kamagate fits that profile exactly.