A cornerback target from the Midwest who visited Tennessee this season celebrated the new year by releasing a list of his current favorites shortly after midnight Monday morning. Four-star Class of 2025 cornerback Mason Alexander of Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, Ind., announced his top 12 college choices in posts on his social-media accounts, revealing that the Vols are one of a half-dozen SEC teams he’s strongly considering.
Missouri, Ole Miss, Purdue, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Florida, West Virginia, Miami, Auburn, Maryland and Pittsburgh joined Tennessee in the group of front-runners for the 6-foot, 180-pound Alexander. He has received scholarship offers from more than 20 schools, including all 12 of the schools in the running for him.
After an extended stay in Croatia over the semester break, Kentucky freshman 7-footer Zvonimir Ivisic is back on campus in Lexington.
Ivisic, who missed the Wildcats’ 96-70 win over Illinois State after Christmas break, posted a live story to his Instagram account on Thursday showing him riding around with UK teammate Adou Thiero.
Despite being admitted to the university in early October and holding a 3.25 GPA in his first semester, Ivisic has still yet to be cleared by the NCAA, which has taken a toll on him mentally and physically, UK head coach John Calipari said during his weekly radio show on Monday
“I had to send him home. He’s 242, down to [219],” Calipari said. “He wasn’t sleeping, eating. This stuff has gotten to him … How about this? He’s dying to get back. He wants to play for this university and these fans in the worst way. He went back and told everybody, ‘I’ve never been coached this way. I’ve never been challenged this way. I love the environment, the fans.’ He just wants to play.”
The NCAA has yet to make a determination whether Ivisic, who played professionally overseas, is eligible. With NIL, Calipari argues, aren’t most players more or less professionals?
“If he were a pro, he’d be a pro. You can make it like he’s a pro,” Calipari said. “‘What about this, what about that, what about this?’ What about the junior that’s making a million dollars and he’s in high school and will go play college basketball? This is common sense stuff. ‘We’re gonna let this kid play and not that kid.’ Common sense.”
Amid rumors he may remain in Croatia during the semester break if he’s not cleared to play soon, Ivisic recently issued a statement via social media.
“I met with Coach Cal and discussed going home for the holidays. My family and I worked really hard to gain admission to Kentucky, which took quite a while. With the ups and downs of this process, it’s been stressful and emotional for me and my family, but I can tell all of BBN that I’ve done everything I can. I’ve obtained a 3.25 GPA. I love this school. I love my teammates and going against other great players every day in practice. I love being coached and challenged and I’m hoping to hear that I can play soon. Go BBN!!”
Ivisic first announced his UK commitment on Aug. 1 before signing with the Wildcats two weeks later on Aug. 14. He was admitted to the university and arrived on campus in early October before being introduced at Big Blue Madness. He was cleared to practice with the team but not eligible to compete against outside competition while awaiting a ruling from the NCAA.
The 7-foot-2, 220-pound 19-year-old center averaged 11.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks while shooting 34.4% from 3-point range on 4.6 attempts in 19.4 minutes per game for Croatia at the FIBA U20 European Championships in Greece in July.
Ivisic has spent the past two seasons playing for SC Derby in Montenegro, where he averaged 5.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in the Adriatic League. He was at his best in the playoffs with 22 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks against Partizan.
Ivisic, who is projected as a potential first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has not been rated by 247Sports but was ranked among the top international freshmen in college basketball by ESPN, checking in at No. 6.
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