Now officially home, Andrija Jelavić shares message to BBN: “I’m excited to get number nine.”

First, it was speculation of Andrija Jelavić‘s highly anticipated arrival from Croatia ahead of the fall semester. Then, photos of the prized 6-11 forward with Mark Popeat a tennis match in Cincinnati shortly after making it to the United States — but still no evidence of a move-in at the Wildcat Coal Lodge in Lexington.

Maybe he got stuck in traffic on I-75 S? Or he fell in love with tennis and wanted to give up on his basketball dreams to become the next — *Googles famous Croatian tennis players* — Goran Ivanišević? You never know.

He pushed those worries aside by sharing a few pictures from the Joe Craft Center late Sunday evening, one of his new practice court in all its blue glory and another of his locker and nameplate: 4 ANDRIJA JELAVIC.

But what if he was hacked and someone else posted those stories? Maybe Jelavić is all a part of our imagination? You can never be too sure until you see the 21-year-old with your own eyes — BBN comes up with some impressive conspiracy theories, after all.

All of the crazy speculation going back to his commitment in April is officially over: Andrija Jelavić is real and he’s in Lexington, wearing Kentucky blue as a Wildcat.

And he’s ready to introduce himself to the most passionate fanbase in college basketball — with his eyes on banner No. 9.

“Hello, BBN. I’m Andrija Jelavić,” he said in a video shared by UK Athletics. “I’m here on campus. I’m excited to get to work, to meet you all. And I’m excited to get number nine.”

Looking good, No. 4.

Jelavić arrived early to start the testing and conditioning process, just as Pope had the other Wildcats do to start the summer in early June. From there, Kentucky as a group will ramp up fall workouts, along with other team bonding activities, before official practice begins in September.

What can you expect from the newest Wildcat on campus to give the team 14 scholarship players going into 2025-26?

“I expect him to come and have a great impact,” Pope said of Jelavić. “… He’s a vet. He’s been playing against grown men, so he should bring a lot. I think he’s a really good young man who’s been dreaming about this opportunity for a long time. I expect him to come here and have an immediate impact.”

Playing for Mega Superbet last season, the incoming freshman averaged 10.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 27.5 minutes per outing while shooting 48.5 percent from the field, 30.5 percent from deep and 69.4 percent from the free-throw line in 29 games played.

The rest of the team will arrive by August 21 with classes starting on August 25. From there, the push for a national championship banner continues.