On a breezy Saturday in Lexington, just a short couple of hours after Kentucky Football’s Spring Showcase, the men’s basketball program decided to make some noise as well.
They landed their fifth commitment of the offseason, reportedly receiving a pledge from European prospect, Andrija Jelavić. This one was a shock for most as it was a name that people were not familiar with. The Croatian recruit appears to be a surprise (outside of the staff) addition to the team, adding depth to the front-court department.
Jelavić is a 6’9” power forward who is “one of the most highly regarded European prospects taking the NCAA route” in 2025-26, per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. He is from Zagreb, Croatia, which Kentucky fans should be familiar with since Zvonimir Ivisic (2023-24 Kentucky Wildcat) was also from Croatia.
Jelavić currently plays for Košarkaški klub Mega Basket, currently referred to as Mega Superbet due to sponsorship reasons. This is a men’s professional basketball club based in Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a founding member and shareholder of the Adriatic Basketball Association.
The past two seasons Jelavić has played 53 games for Mega Superbet in which he averaged 10.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Andrija also had an outstanding field goal percentage of 62%.
The soon to be twenty-one year old (in May) also owns a 7’2” wingspan that will assist Kentucky’s defense at the rim. From the little bit that I’ve seen of Jelavić, he is extremely versatile and a mobile big that can spread the floor. He very clearly can also make you pay from behind the three-point line with his jumper.
He will join Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh), Kam Williams (Tulane), Mouhamed Dioubate (Alabama), and Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State) as the new faces that are headed to the program this summer.
As we find out more about Kentucky’s newest player, we will update you with it when it’s available.
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