Sources: UK’s Quaintance to reopen recruitment

Jeff Borzello, ESPN Personnel WriterApr 10, 2024, 04:05 PM ET

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• Basketball recruiting insider.
• Joined ESPN in 2014.
• Graduate of University of Delaware.Five-star forward Jayden Quaintance,

the highest-ranked member of John Calipari’s 2024 recruiting class, has asked for a release from his letter of intent to Kentucky and plans to reopen his recruitment, sources informed ESPN on Wednesday.Quaintance’s demand comes hours after Calipari was officially revealed as the brand-new head

coach at Arkansas.He’s the 2nd Kentucky recruit to reopen his recruitment since the news of Calipari’s departure

initially broke Sunday night, signing up with top-25 prospect Karter Knox. Freshman center Aaron Bradshaw has gone into the transfer website, while Rob Dillingham– a projected lotto pick– entered the NBA draft.Editor’s Picks 2 Related Quaintance, ranked No. 14 in the ESPN 100, was a McDonald’s All-American after an excellent

senior season at Word of

God Christian Academy (North Carolina). He was originally a member of the 2025 class, but reclassified to 2024 so he might play in college a year earlier. But since he only turned 16 years old last July– and for that reason won’t turn 19 up until 2026– Quaintance will likely have to spend two years in college before going into the NBA draft.He represented USA Basketball at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship last summertime, averaging 6.7 points and 6.5 rebounds in six games en path to a gold medal. Quaintance set up 9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds with Team Thad on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring and summer season, and he played well in high-profile games against Overtime Elite teams this previous season.With Quaintance and Knox out of the fold, four ESPN 100 prospects stay in what was once the No. 2-ranked recruiting class in the country: five-star guard Johnuel” Boogie “Fland and four-stars Billy Richmond, Somto Cyril and Travis Perry.When Quaintance originally committed to Kentucky in November, he picked the Wildcats over Missouri, while likewise taking check outs to Florida, South Florida and Ohio State.