The Big Blue Nation has a new addition in its frontcourt. Croatian big man Andrija Jelavić, a 6’11” forward out of Mega Superbet in Serbia, will play for Kentucky in the upcoming season.
As Andrew Carr and Ansley Almonor move on, Jelavić is exactly the kind of player Kentucky needs. He joins a frontcourt mix featuring Alabama transfer Mo Dioubate, Arizona State’s Jayden Quaintance, and five-star freshman Malachi Moreno.
How did Mark Pope land him?
Croatian Big Man Andrija Jelavić Opens Up on His Kentucky Commitment
The story of Jelavić’s Kentucky commitment is almost too smooth to believe. “Honestly, the story starts with the pivotal point last season with Mega. I played some games and I was really good, and that’s when the Kentucky rumors started to spread,” he told Keith Farmer of BBN Tonight in “Meet the Cats.”
Once his agent mentioned the Wildcats’ interest, Jelavić says everything fell into place. “From that moment, you never really know what they think. But then Mark called me and said they wanted me to be a part of this team this year and everything. I said yes, I want to be here. We didn’t even talk about details or anything like that.”
Andrija Jelavić has arrived 👏 pic.twitter.com/ZOQYkwAGqq
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) August 18, 2025
Jelavić arrives with a versatile skill set that includes 52 made 3-pointers over the past two years and a 7’2″ wingspan. He averaged 10.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 assists last season. At 21, he brings two years of professional experience, making him a polished, ready-to-contribute stretch 4. Yet, landing Jelavić was instantaneous for Pope.
“I instantly committed,” Jelavić said. “He (Pope) asked if I wanted to commit, and I told him yes. I committed right then, without even talking to other college coaches. Mark was the first and only coach I spoke with.” For Pope, it was a dream scenario. Pope gets a player who ranks among the top 20 international prospects for 2025, and scouts say his size and versatility make him a perfect fit for Pope’s system.
Kentucky Player Profiles: Andrija Jelavic.
(9/14) ✅
Andrija is not only bringing a unique skillset, but also valuable pro experience
that should speed along the adjustment process in the SEC.
Fully expect Andrija to have huge games for Kentucky. #BBN #KentuckyBasketball pic.twitter.com/0b06lm3FnD
— Dylan (@BigBlueDylan) August 4, 2025
“I expect him to come and have a great impact,” Pope said in July. “He’s a vet. He’s been playing against grown men, so he should bring a lot. I think he’s a really good young man who’s been dreaming about this opportunity for a long time. I expect him to come here and have an immediate impact.”
Jelavić does bring an impressive track record on the international stage. In 2021, at the FIBA U18 European Challengers, he played five games, averaging 14.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2 assists per contest. In the 2022 FIBA U18 European Championship, Jelavić stepped up even further across seven games, posting 11.3 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, with an efficiency rating of 19.9.
It is good to have Andrija Jelavic in Lexington!!!
There isn’t a ton of defensive physicality in this clip, but the 6’11” forward shows a willingness to bang around a bit with an aggressive post move to the midline.
His interior game is more advanced than generally advertised. https://t.co/RQjmWe68RO pic.twitter.com/DrXoh9DnIQ
— Brandon Ramsey (@BRamseyKSR) August 18, 2025
While Jelavić says that FIBA has made him “well adjusted” to basketball outside Europe, it still is not easy to adjust to life on the court in Lexington, where the pace of NCAA basketball is a step above even the professional leagues he’s faced in Europe. “Not just the practice itself, but the construction and practice, everything is much faster than in Europe,” added Jelavić.
Among Europe’s top international recruits, Jelavić stands out as one of the most polished 2025 prospects. On Class of 2025 international big boards compiled by multiple recruiting sources, he ranks around 20th overall, with one evaluator even slotting him as high as 13th. He stands alongside names like Germany’s Hannes Steinbach, Duke’s Dame Sarr, and Louisville’s Sananda Fru and Vangelis Zougris, while several of his former Mega teammates also crack the top 20.
This list is an average ranking of our 3 personal international big boards, with the top prospects heading to college next year. pic.twitter.com/qf4fih3tmZ
— nbadraftpoint (@nbadraftpoint) August 21, 2025
Amid all the hype, Jelavić finds some familiar vibes. “I mean, Croatia’s capital is Zagreb. It doesn’t have a coastline; it’s in the middle of the country. I grew up there, and it’s really great. Honestly, Zagreb is pretty similar to Lexington,” added Jelavić.
With Jelavić, Kentucky’s frontcourt depth gets another layer. Pairing him with established contributors like Dioubate, Quaintance, and Moreno gives Pope a versatile, multi-dimensional frontcourt that can stretch defenses and create mismatches from day one. If the early signs are anything to go by, this could be a seamless fit.