Andrija Jelavic is entering the Transfer Portal, joining Jaland Lowe, Jasper Johnson, Brandon Garrison, Mo Dioubate, and Denzel Aberdeen. Jelavic entering the portal isn’t just another departure; it’s one Kentucky can’t afford, especially considering how he was used. He was never put in a position to succeed.
For whatever reason, Pope wanted Jelavic to be a stretch 4 for Kentucky basketball. He didn't play that way in Europe, and his stats show he was poorly cast in that role in college. 21-of-76 from deep, but 52-of-77 from 2. Shooting over half his shots from deep when shooting under 30 percent doesn't make a lot of sense. But as a midpost player, Jelavic was highly effective.
And now Jelavic joins a list of players that will play elsewhere.
Kentucky basketball's roster is in complete flux
Jelavic joining the portal leaves Kentucky in a really odd spot moving forward. Was he elite? No. But he was very much a player who will be able to contribute at the college level as he develops. Now, Kentucky's entire frontcourt is thinking of leaving.
Mo Dioubate left because the money didn't fit. Brandon Garrison left because the role didn't fit. Malachi Moreno is testing the NBA waters, but will most likely be back because of how strong this draft class is. Jayden Quaintance is going to go pro by all indications, and now Andrija Jelavic completes the mass exodus up front.
As things stand, Kentucky will return 0 minutes up front. In fact, right now, the Cats only have 3 players locked in: Reece Potter, Braydon Hawthorne, and Mason Williams. Kam Williams would like to be here, according to his dad. But they are taking a wait-and-see approach. And we are still waiting to hear from Collin Chandler and Trent Noah.
But that kind of roster turnover was what a coach like Mark Pope needed to avoid. His teams play better when they know each other and the system. Year 1 with Kentucky was an anomaly. He found the perfect mix of players to really complement each other, and then the injuries hit. Each player played their role perfectly, from Ansley Almonor coming in to hit 3's to Lamont Butler perfectly setting the table. It all worked, but as year 2 showed, it is much harder to do that every single year.
That was the goal of signing so many younger players last season. They could grow and develop together. But the 14 losses blew that plan up, and now the roster will look nothing like anyone thought it would.
Maybe that is a good thing, but losing Jelavic hurts. I really do believe he will develop into a really nice big man in college. It just won't happen at Kentucky.
Losing Andrija Jelavic isn’t just about one player, it’s about a pattern Kentucky can’t afford to repeat. Mark Pope now has another starter to replace, another roster to rebuild, and less margin for error than ever.
If this next group doesn’t come together quickly, the conversation around Year 3 won’t just be about progress; it will be about finding a new head coach.