International addition Zvonimir Ivišić to wear legendary jersey number with UK basketball

Zvonimir Ivišić is the most recent, and likely last, addition to the Kentucky men’s basketball team for the 2023-24 season.

Ivišić, who is from Croatia, committed to UK in early August. The Kentucky program officially announced his addition for this coming season just a few days ago.

And while Ivišić isn’t yet on campus in Lexington, his jersey number has been announced for the coming season.

It’s a historic one.

According to Kentucky’s online roster page, Ivišić will wear No. 44 for the Wildcats.

A 7-foot-2, 220-pound forward who previously spent two seasons playing for Studentski Centar Podgorica — a team based in Montenegro — Ivišić now finds himself in possession of one of the most storied jersey numbers in UK men’s basketball history.

Among others, the No. 44 jersey at UK has been worn by Phil Grawemeyer, Cotton Nash and Dan Issel, three players who have had their jerseys retired by Kentucky.

Even though Grawemeyer, Nash and Issel all wore No. 44 and have their jerseys retired, the number remains active for use by current Kentucky players.

The most recent Wildcat to wear No. 44 was center Dakari Johnson in 2015.

Whenever Ivišić officially takes to the court wearing his No. 44 jersey, he will become part of an exclusive club in UK men’s basketball history.

Lukasz Obrzut (Poland), Olivier Sarr (France) and Morakinyo Williams (England) are the only Europeans to previously suit up for the Wildcats, with Ivišić (Croatia) poised to be the fourth.

Ivišić is also in position to be the 20th player born outside the United States to appear in a game for the Wildcats.

In late June, jersey numbers were announced for the other members of the UK men’s basketball roster ahead of the team’s trip to Toronto for the GLOBL JAM tournament.

Among the highlights from that announcement?

Freshman guard Reed Sheppard is following in his father Jeff’s footsteps by wearing No. 15, and incoming transfer Tre Mitchell is opting for No. 4, with both of his jersey numbers from prior college stops (No. 33 at UMass and Texas, and No. 3 at West Virginia) already occupied at UK.

Here’s a complete look at the jersey numbers for the 2023-24 Kentucky men’s basketball team.

▪ Freshman guard Robert Dillingham - 0.

▪ Freshman small forward Justin Edwards - 1.

▪ Freshman center Aaron Bradshaw - 2.

▪ Sophomore guard Adou Thiero - 3.

▪ Fifth-year power forward Tre Mitchell - 4.

▪ Fifth-year guard Antonio Reeves - 12.

▪ Sophomore guard Grant Darbyshire - 13.

▪ Fifth-year guard Brennan Canada - 14.

▪ Freshman guard Reed Sheppard - 15.

▪ Freshman guard Joey Hart - 20.

▪ Freshman guard DJ Wagner - 21.

▪ Sophomore guard Walker Horn - 22.

▪ Freshman small forward Jordan Burks - 23.

▪ Senior guard Kareem Watkins - 25.

▪ Sophomore center Ugonna Onyenso - 33.

▪ Freshman forward Zvonimir Ivišić - 44.

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