Andrija Jelavic

[KCKUKFan]

I don’t think this has anything to do with the current administration. We have had issues with foreign players under every president. Seems more like a Kentucky issue because Gonzaga/Illinois /Duke never have a problem. Sarr basically dipped on his foreign team in the middle of the night and he’s somehow at Duke practicing as we speak.

As noted before, Sarr was already over here.

Other guys we've had have had issues with grades or professional earnings... NCAA bylaw stuff, in other words.

This case is unique because the staff is concerned that they can't even get him over here with a visa in time.

[Fox2Monk]

As noted before, Sarr was already over here.

Other guys we've had have had issues with grades or professional earnings... NCAA bylaw stuff, in other words.

This case is unique because the staff is concerned that they can't even get him over here with a visa in time.

this shouldn’t be an issue, Sarr may have already been here but they still deal with the same issues and get it done.

[KCKUKFan]

this shouldn’t be an issue, Sarr may have already been here but they still deal with the same issues and get it done.

Shouldn't, I agree.

But the silence is deafening.

[Pobilly]

I think most on here are running center for either party. In the past 16 years I have never voted full ticket for anything. I vote for each person per election. I have voted republican, democrat and independent in elections. When I say I fell right, I was raised in a house of 2 democrats (parents), worked for different democrats throughout elections in 70s and 80s. Putting out signs and such. There was 3 of us kids, the oldest (my brother) and myself both have been conservative most of our lives, my sister is still a middling democrat. We have have about the same views and beliefs.

I have a hard time with the hard left and the extreme right, cannot handle socialism or communism types of thoughts. I have several friends that are either of those things and love them to death and would go to war with them. Just cannot agree with their politics. Heck they both classify me as a Trumper but the truth is I have only voted for the man 1 time. Too funny how people look at each other when it comes to politics.

Biggest problem today is that people think you have to line up with their view or you are speaking hate. I can love you all and not agree and have never expected anyone to agree with me. That is all on this for this thread. I will post in political thread anything else. Sorry about that guys.

[CrimsonCats]

I would hate to think it’s an immigration thing. I’m all for removing illegals and protecting our borders, but Jelavic is trying to come here legally and with the proper paperwork. I understand there are NIL limitations and such, but he’s coming here with a specific purpose. Precisely the type of immigrants we want. Now if he gets here and starts screaming Death to America, that’s a different story.

I’ll try not to get on my soapbox too much, but the reality that needs to be acknowledged is that this administration is anti-immigration with no real qualifiers on that statement. Their rhetoric mostly focuses on the public safety aspect to try and maintain some support for the drastic things they’re doing, but their actions say otherwise. Many if not most of the people they’re rounding up are not hardened criminals, and they’ve both been actively stripping people of legal status who had followed all the previous rules and changing rules to make legal immigration harder in the future. Even if we manage to eventually get Jelavic in the country this year, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this is something that starts affecting foreign born athletes more broadly in the near future.

[KCKUKFan]

I’ll try not to get on my soapbox too much, but the reality that needs to be acknowledged is that this administration is anti-immigration with no real qualifiers on that statement. Their rhetoric mostly focuses on the public safety aspect to try and maintain some support for the drastic things they’re doing, but their actions say otherwise. Many if not most of the people they’re rounding up are not hardened criminals, and they’ve both been actively stripping people of legal status who had followed all the previous rules and changing rules to make legal immigration harder in the future. Even if we manage to eventually get Jelavic in the country this year, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this is something that starts affecting foreign born athletes more broadly in the near future.

I couldn't agree more with all of this. Well stated.

[Timgray43@gmail.com]

Matt Jones suggested that it was an immigration issue, and that the people in the athletic department are staying tight lipped.

He also suggested that it's better if Kentucky fans dont start making it a "thing" (ala Enes and Big Z) because of the temperamental nature of this particular administration, re: immigration.

Whether or not you're a fan of this current administration, you have to admit that that sort of tracks.

We should just sit back and let this one play out.

Matt jones is a lawyer so should know better. This is all the ncaa, not immigration. Same as with big z. The difference now though is that he won’t come over on a student visa, he will come over on a work visa. It’s the same with his 4 other teammates. My guess is that UK isn’t going to file for that work visa until the ncaa clears him.

[Timgray43@gmail.com]

I’ll try not to get on my soapbox too much, but the reality that needs to be acknowledged is that this administration is anti-immigration with no real qualifiers on that statement. Their rhetoric mostly focuses on the public safety aspect to try and maintain some support for the drastic things they’re doing, but their actions say otherwise. Many if not most of the people they’re rounding up are not hardened criminals, and they’ve both been actively stripping people of legal status who had followed all the previous rules and changing rules to make legal immigration harder in the future. Even if we manage to eventually get Jelavic in the country this year, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this is something that starts affecting foreign born athletes more broadly in the near future.

not a thing has changed as far as foreign students, and especially work visas which is how Jelavic will come over under. He simply expanding the vetting process to include vetting of their social media presence. Frankly I’m shocked that wasn’t being done to begin with.

[KCKUKFan]

not a thing has changed as far as foreign students, and especially work visas which is how Jelavic will come over under. He simply expanding the vetting process to include vetting of their social media presence. Frankly I’m shocked that wasn’t being done to begin with.

This process has absolutely become more involved and complicated in the past few months.

Pro organizations and other universities have commented on it.

[KentuckyWild2020]

If for some reason he's not on this team it's going to suck.

I have put all my eggs in one basket with this young man, he's the steal of the class in my honest humble opinion.

We need this player.

[Timgray43@gmail.com]

This process has absolutely become more involved and complicated in the past few months.

Pro organizations and other universities have commented on it.

agreed but it’s not because of a ban, it’s because they are actually vetting people as the law requires. I’m not sure if UK has even filed for a visa yet on his behalf. I don’t think they can do that until the NCAA clears him to play college basketball. Work or student visa, his job and or being a student depends upon their clearing him. So I don’t think that’s the hold up yet. If he was cleared we would know. That info always comes out from either the player or UK. There are so many international players that are going to play in college next year, they may be overwhelmed.

[KCKUKFan]

agreed but it’s not because of a ban, it’s because they are actually vetting people as the law requires. I’m not sure if UK has even filed for a visa yet on his behalf. I don’t think they can do that until the NCAA clears him to play college basketball. Work or student visa, his job and or being a student depends upon their clearing him. So I don’t think that’s the hold up yet. If he was cleared we would know. That info always comes out from either the player or UK. There are so many international players that are going to play in college next year, they may be overwhelmed.

I don't think a single person in this thread indicated that it was because of a "ban."

[KCKUKFan]

If for some reason he's not on this team it's going to suck.

I have put all my eggs in one basket with this young man, he's the steal of the class in my honest humble opinion.

We need this player.

Have you ever actually seen him play basketball?

I mean, I agree that he will be important, especially for depth, but I don't think the season hinges on his eligibility.

[BobS]

I’ll try not to get on my soapbox too much, but the reality that needs to be acknowledged is that this administration is anti-immigration with no real qualifiers on that statement. Their rhetoric mostly focuses on the public safety aspect to try and maintain some support for the drastic things they’re doing, but their actions say otherwise. Many if not most of the people they’re rounding up are not hardened criminals, and they’ve both been actively stripping people of legal status who had followed all the previous rules and changing rules to make legal immigration harder in the future. Even if we manage to eventually get Jelavic in the country this year, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this is something that starts affecting foreign born athletes more broadly in the near future.

They are not anti immigration. They are anti ILLEGAL immigration. There is a difference which seems to escape many. Please provide examples of the “many” that were stripped of legal status. Good grief. But enough politics.

None of us, including the almighty Matt Jones, knows exactly why this guy isn’t here. I suggest patience but I certainly can understand skepticism in these times.

[KCKUKFan]

They are not anti immigration. They are anti ILLEGAL immigration.

Stephen Miller has entered the chat. 😂

I don't care what side of the aisle you land on. That guy is a creepy psychopath. We should all be able to call a spade a spade and laugh at that.

All Jones said was that a source in the basketball office indicated to him that the visa process was complicated and they were concerned about getting him over here. Not because of bans or anything crazy like that. Just that it's a more complicated process than it's been in recent years. That sounds pretty on-point to me.