FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas basketball and John Calipari finally have a scholarship player on the roster, and it's one with past ties to the Razorbacks new head coach.

Former Kentucky center Zvonimir Ivišić announced his commitment to Arkansas on his Instagram Monday. The 7-foot-2 Croatian appeared in 15 games off the bench for the Wildcats this season, averaging 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 11.7 minutes.

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Ivišić also showcased his shooting prowess during his freshman season, making 57.7% (30 for 52) of his attempts overall, including 37.5% (6 of 16) beyond the 3-point arc.

Ivišić sat out the first two months of the season as he awaited an NCAA ruling on his amateur status after playing in professional leagues overseas before joining Kentucky.

The NCAA cleared him Jan. 20, and Ivišić wasted no time making a difference, playing that night against Georgia, putting on a show with 13 points (on 5-of-7 shooting, 3 for 4 on 3s), five rebounds, two assists, three blocks and two steals — in only 16 minutes.

Calipari was officially announced as the Arkansas basketball coach on April 10, one week after Eric Musselman’s departure to Southern Cal. He arrived in Fayetteville with zero scholarship players on the roster. 

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Zvonimir Ivišić commits to Arkansas basketball, John Calipari