Another Kentucky Wildcat is porting. On Tuesday, it was announced that Andrija Jelavic would be entering the transfer market after one season in Lexington. Jelavic was a one-of-a-kind acquisition for Kentucky last offseason, since he had previously played in Serbia before being recruited by Mark Pope. According to KSR, he is now exploring other possibilities while keeping the door open for a comeback.
Jelavic seized the starting spot during SEC play in his single season at Kentucky, adding much-needed stretch-four ability to the Wildcats as a flexible 6-11 forward. He scored only 5. 5 points and 4. 0 rebounds per game while shooting 47. 7% from the court. Jelavic required time to adapt Pope’s system at Kentucky, but he showed glimpses of potential in his first season. However, it appears that admirers would not be able to see what a year two Jelly would look like under Pope.
Jelavic had gone a month without stepping on the court before January arrived, at which point he resumed playing on a regular basis. At the time, Pope observed that Jelavic’s talents would be useful in addressing the team’s offensive woes. In January, Pope stated that they would need him to perform well moving forward because he possesses talents that may significantly benefit them. After that, Jelavic was appointed as a starter.
The 6-11 Croatian forward’s finest performance at Kentucky was an 11-point effort against LSU, including 2-4 from three-point range. Throughout the year, he showed promise as he grew more comfortable in the starting position in the second half of the year, but it appears that Pope is looking for a more proven piece at the four for next season, a seasoned veteran from the portal. Jelavic only had one double-digit game in SEC play, and BBN was hopeful that his output would increase in year two.
This offseason, Kentucky is projected to witness a significant exodus among its roster, with Jelavic being one of the few players expected to leave.
