Quaintance devotes to Kentucky for second time

• Jonathan GivonyApr 8, 2025, 09:49 AM ET Close

  NBA draft expert and writer
  Signed Up With ESPN.com in July 2017
  Founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a personal scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and global groups

Former Arizona State big male Jayden Quaintance, a predicted top-five choice in the 2026 NBA draft, has committed to Mark Pope and Kentucky, his dad, Haminn Quaintance informed ESPN on Tuesday, almost a year after decommitting from the Wildcats.

“We always liked Kentucky,” Haminn Quaintance stated. “He was devoted there before John Calipari left for Arkansas, which is the factor we wound up at Arizona State. We were constantly hoping they ‘d return around and hire him. It didn’t make good sense for Coach Pope last time, attempting to handle one of Cal’s guys, however this time it actually felt like he wanted him to be there.”

Quaintance picked Kentucky over the similarity Auburn, USC, Kansas, Ohio State and others.Quaintance was called to the Big 12 All-Freshman and All-Defensive groups, only the 5th player in conference history to earn that distinction, after averaging 9.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 29 minutes per game.He did so despite being the youngest player in college basketball last season, showing up on school in Tempe at 16 years of ages after finishing high school a year early. He is not qualified for the 2025 draft since of the NBA age limit, which states that a player needs to turn 19 years of ages in the calendar year of the draft. Quaintance played this entire college season as a 17-year-old, which is almost unprecedented.Quaintance injured his knee Feb. 23 in a game against Kansas State, eventually requiring him to have surgical treatment March 19 to repair a torn ACL.

His father said doctors who conducted the surgical treatment at the Mayo Center in Phoenix expect him to be cleared for contact 6 months following his injury, and prepared for the start of the season in November.”Kentucky provided us with an extremely detailed prepare for how they plan on bringing Jayden back with the trainers and how they wish to utilize him when he’s healthy,”Haminn Quaintance said. “The manner in which they utilize their huge men as offending centers, he actually fits into that system. Jayden didn’t want to go somewhere where he ‘d just be a screener. Coach Pope made him feel really good. They went actually deep on the analytics, going into things most coaches don’t even think about.”At 6-foot-10, Quaintance was among the very best shot blockers in college basketball, boasting a 7-5 wingspan, exceptional mobility and strong impulses on both ends of the flooring. He’s a strong passer, a considerable weapon producing his own shot from the perimeter or completing out of pick-and-rolls, and he has the versatility to move all over the flooring defensively.He was considered among the very best available players in the transfer website and will be carefully studied by NBA executives in Lexington next season.Kentucky will need to revamp its lineup practically entirely after graduating seven of

its leading 9 scorers this offseason: Amari Williams, Andrew Carr, Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson, Koby Brea, Ansley Almonor and Kerr Kriisa (who moved to Cincinnati)

. Pope has already included a few transfers, including Pitt guard Jaland Lowe, Alabama big man Mouhamed Dioubate, and Tulane forward Kam Williams. He will likewise register three extremely regarded freshmen: point player Acaden Lewis, shooting guard Jasper Johnson and big male Malachi Moreno.Along with Duke

, Kentucky is heavily involved with the leading remaining uncommitted high school senior, Nate Ament, who, like Quaintance, is also projected as a top-5 choice in the 2026 NBA draft.Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft specialist and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and worldwide teams.