Kentucky men’s basketball is often viewed through the lens of elite American recruiting, but the program’s history tells a much broader story — one that stretches well beyond U.S. borders.
Since 1996, 23 players born outside the United States have appeared in a game for the Wildcats, representing 15 different countries and playing under five Kentucky head coaches: Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, Billy Gillispie, John Calipari and Mark Pope. From national champions to NBA stars, international talent has quietly helped shape Kentucky basketball for nearly three decades.
Kentucky’s Current International Presence
The 2025–26 Wildcats feature just one international player: Andrija Jelavic, a sophomore forward from Croatia.
Jelavic arrived in Lexington after spending two years playing professionally in Europe, primarily in Serbia. Because he completed college-level coursework overseas, the NCAA classified him as a sophomore despite this being his first season of college basketball.
Through 11 games, Jelavic is averaging 5.6 points and 4.0 rebounds, steadily adjusting to the speed and physicality of the college game.
“He’s been working really hard,” Mark Pope said Dec. 30. “As he gets more comfortable with the pace of the game, there’s space for him to really help us — especially shooting the ball. He’s a pretty good playmaker, and his communication on defense is going to be really important.”
Jelavic is Pope’s third international player at Kentucky, following Kerr Kriisa (Estonia) and Amari Williams (England) from last season.
Where It All Began: Canada Opens the Door
Kentucky’s international era began in 1996, when Jamaal Magloire became the first non-U.S.-born player to appear in a game for the Wildcats. The Canadian big man played four seasons at UK and was part of the 1998 national championship team.
Canada remains the most represented country in Kentucky basketball history, producing seven Wildcats: Jamaal Magloire, Bernard Cote, Sheray Thomas, Trey Lyles, Jamal Murray, Mychal Mulder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander reached historic territory last season, becoming the first former Kentucky player to win the NBA MVP award, while Murray continues to rank among the league’s elite scorers.
International Stars Who Defined Kentucky Eras
Few international players left a bigger imprint than Oscar Tshiebwe of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
During the 2021–22 season, Tshiebwe swept all six NCAA-recognized National Player of the Year awards, becoming the first player in program history to do so. Despite playing just two seasons, he finished with 952 rebounds, the second-most in Kentucky history, and averaged 14.4 rebounds per game, trailing only Bob Burrow.
Other notable international Wildcats include:
Nick Richards (Jamaica) — a three-year starter and current NBA player
Skal Labissiere (Haiti) — a one-and-done and former No. 1 high school recruit
Wenyen Gabriel (Sudan) — a five-year NBA veteran who competed in the 2024 Olympics with South Sudan
Olivier Sarr (France) — Kentucky’s leading scorer during the 2020–21 season
Europe’s Consistent Influence
European players have been part of Kentucky’s fabric across multiple eras:
Lukasz Obrzut (Poland) — a four-year Wildcat and fan favorite
Souleymane “Jules” Camara (Senegal) — a four-season contributor across five years
Kerr Kriisa (Estonia) — part of Mark Pope’s first roster before a season-ending injury
Zvonimir Ivisic and Andrija Jelavic (Croatia) — making Croatia one of three countries, along with Canada and England, to produce multiple Wildcats
Africa and the Modern Wildcats
Recent seasons have featured strong African representation:
Ugonna Onyenso (Nigeria) developed into Kentucky’s starting center in 2023–24 and set a Rupp Arena record with 10 blocks in a game
Isaac Humphries (Australia) remains the only Australian to play for the Wildcats and later made international headlines in professional basketball
A Global Trend That’s Not Slowing Down
As more international players — including those with professional experience overseas — explore college basketball, Kentucky’s long-standing openness to global talent has positioned the program well for the future.
From championship contributors to NBA MVPs, international players have helped define Kentucky basketball’s past — and with Andrija Jelavic carrying that legacy forward, the Wildcats’ global story continues to grow.
