LEXINGTON β Even before Andrija JelaviΔΒ arrived from overseas, Mark Pope made the expectations clear.
“He’s a vet,” Pope said of the 6-foot-11 Croatian big man last July. “He’s been playing against grown men, so he should bring a lot. And I think he’s a really good young man who’s been dreaming about this opportunity for a long time.
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“I expect him to come in here and have an immediate impact.”
And to an extent, JelaviΔ did just that. At least early in Kentucky basketball‘s 2025-26 season. Before the calendar turned to 2026, JelaviΔ appeared in 11 of the Wildcats‘ 13 games. He logged at least 10 minutes in all but one of those outings.
But cracks began to appear as UK hit rock bottom.
Kentucky lost its first four marquee matchups (Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina and Gonzaga). While JelaviΔ played well in limiting UNC superstar freshman Caleb Wilson to a 5-of-19 shooting performance, the international prospect was nowhere to be found in Kentucky’s come-from-behind win over Indiana on Dec. 13.
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After that triumph over the Hoosiers, Pope downplayed JelaviΔ’s absence.
“I did feel like there was space for Jela to be really effective in this game,” Pope said. “I actually felt like it made some sense. He’s our most effective post player, especially at the 4, and this mucked-up game kind of felt that way. But the game just kind of told us where to go, and the guys responded pretty well. So, I expect Jela is going to help us in the future, for sure.”
Not in the immediate future, though.
One week later, JelaviΔ again was glued to the bench as UK rallied to beat St. John’s in Atlanta. Though he briefly took the court β for all of seven minutes β versus Bellarmine three days later, JelaviΔ didn’t play in the team’s SEC-opening loss to Alabama on Jan. 3.
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What do Andrija JelaviΔ’s numbers β advanced or otherwise β say about his play this season?
Nov 21, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Andrija Jelavic (4) celebrates after making a three point basket during the first half against the Loyola (MD) Greyhounds at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Aside from his stellar defensive showing in frustrating Wilson, JelaviΔ has had other solid outings in 2025-26. He grabbed a career-best 10 rebounds versus Tennessee Tech β one of four occasions in which he’s pulled down at least five boards in a game. JelaviΔ has a pair of double-digit scoring performances and another with nine.
As of Jan. 4, he’s averaging 5.6 points and 4 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game. Per 40 minutes, JelaviΔ would post a double-double (15.4 points and 10.9 rebounds) every time he touched the floor. He’s also shot it well overall, knocking down 47.4% (27 for 57) of his field-goal attempts.
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Yet there are areas of adversity. Particularly his long-range shooting. JelaviΔ has made only six of his 27 attempts behind the 3-point line β a 22.2% conversion rate.
Advanced numbers treat him even harsher.
The analytics site EvanMiya.com tracks a stat called “Bayesian Performance Rating.” This metric assigns a figure to a player’s overall value to a team while on the floor.
Among Kentucky’s 11 scholarship players with enough appearances to qualify (sophomore forward Jayden Quaintance has yet to reach that threshold) this season, JelaviΔ’s Bayesian Performance Rating is the worst.
By a significant margin.
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His BPR is negative-0.11; the next closest on the team is sophomore forward Trent Noah at 2.84.
JelaviΔ possesses the Wildcats’ lowest offensive BPR (negative-0.37) and defensive BPR (0.26).
It tracks, then, that Kentucky’s adjusted offensive efficiency (points scored per 100 minutes) and adjusted defensive efficiency (points allowed per 100 minutes) also are at their worst when JelaviΔ is on the court, owning team-low figures in both departments.
Constituting arguably a team’s biggest liability on offense and defense isn’t a recipe for carving out a larger role. Which JelaviΔ has learned the hard way the past month.
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How can Andrija JelaviΔ turn around his season?
Kentucky forward Andrija Jelavic touches the top wall after misplacing a pass during Kentucky basketball Pro Day on Oct. 7, 2025; Lexington, KY, USA; at Historic Memorial Coliseum.
So, his dreary advanced analytics notwithstanding, what will it take for JelaviΔ to work his way back into the rotation?
“At the 4, as he gets more and more comfortable with the pace of the game, I think there’s a space for him to really help us shooting the ball. I do,” Pope told reporters Dec. 30. “I think he’s a pretty good playmaker. I think there’s room for him. He has had some impact in the post offensively.”
But as the numbers attest, JelaviΔ’s defense is holding him back.
“So much of where the game is going now is taxing you to make decisive communication happen in real time on the court,” Pope said. “And so that’s a space where he’s growing.
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“But he’s a good player, and there’s definitely room for him to help us.”
Reach Kentucky menβs basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball’s Andrija Jelavic attempts to salvage season
