No one around Kentucky basketball truly knew what to expect when Andrija Jelavic arrived in Lexington late last summer. The 6-foot-11 Croatian, a surprise addition to the 2025–26 roster, entered as the mystery piece of Mark Pope’s class. In fact, almost no one had seen him play in person before his first workout at the Joe Craft Center, while the rest of the team had already spent eight weeks training and bonding together.
When Jelavic finally joined, practices briefly stopped as teammates sized him up. Assistant coach Mikhail McLean recalled the moment: “I’ll never forget the first practice… ‘Oh, who’s this? Oh, what does he do?’” With no scouting report, players tested him on the fly. “And then he made a 3… ‘Oh, he can shoot.’… ‘Oh, he can drive.’… And then he had a turnover. ‘OK, he’s just like us. He’s just a normal person.’ So, it’s been really fun.”
The experience, however, wasn’t all smooth. Jelavic arrived behind schedule and had to adjust quickly from European basketball to the physical demands of the college game, while coaches worked to unlock a skill set they were still learning themselves.
From soccer in Zagreb to basketball potential
Jelavic grew up in Zagreb playing soccer before his father convinced him to try basketball. Reluctant at first, he admitted, “I wanted to go just for him to… leave me alone… I was gonna go to one practice, and that’s it.” That changed quickly. “I saw the potential… and I came to love the sport… It was just a logical decision.”
His development led him to Serbia’s Mega Superbet program, known for producing NBA talent like Nikola Jokic. “Everyone wants to go to the NBA,” Jelavic said. “That’s why I went there… I knew they were going to give me minutes.”
A fast and unlikely path to Kentucky
His recruitment unfolded rapidly. “It was very… interesting,” McLean said. “It was quick.” Jelavic himself added, “It would be really awesome if Kentucky really wanted me… I didn’t know it would happen.”
Despite little direct contact, he kept hearing of Kentucky’s interest. Then came a brief FaceTime call with Pope. “It was short, but decisive… That was my first call and last call,” Jelavic said.
Adjustment, adversity, and growth
Even after committing, delays kept him from arriving until August, fueling doubts. “I understood that maybe some people… would have doubts… ‘I’ll be here… for sure,’” he said.
The transition proved tough. “But here… it’s something elemental… Without that, you just can’t play basketball,” he said of the physicality. Early flashes gave way to inconsistency, and eventually his minutes disappeared. “It was pretty difficult… just overnight… zero minutes,” Jelavic said. Still, he stayed ready: “Be ready… Don’t stop believing.”
His patience paid off. After re-entering the rotation, he earned a starting role. McLean praised his mentality: “His body language and his attitude never changed… he worked harder when he wasn’t playing.”
What’s next at Kentucky?
Despite ups and downs, Jelavic has embraced the experience and believes in the team. “No team really wants to play us… they know our potential,” he said.
Pope sees significant upside: “He’s got a massive ceiling… I think he’s going to be a really good player.”
With eligibility remaining, Jelavic isn’t focused on the future yet. “No one really talks about it… I want to finish what we started here,” he said.
Looking back, what began as uncertainty has turned into a story of steady growth. As McLean noted, “If he was to come back… he’s gonna make shots. He’s gonna be really good.”