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Could Arizona State transfer Jayden Quaintance really be ready for full practice before Kentucky even opens the 2025-26 season?
The 6-10 Quaintance injured his right knee Feb. 23 and had surgery March 19 to repair his torn ACL. He’s been all-in with his rehab — he’s stayed home in Tampa rather than take an official visit recently to UK with other transfer portal addition — and told Aaron Torres on his podcast that he “definitely” would be ready for the start of the season.
“I’m trying to get fully back by September, playing like full contact playing by September, so that’s the goal so far,” he told Torres. “Just trying to stay on pace for that. I’ve been doing well (and) focusing on recovery as much as possible.
“I’ve been getting my flexibility back pretty well. I’ve been getting full extension, swelling is going down, it’s been pretty straightforward so it’s going well.”
If he’s right, that’s huge news for Kentucky which will now play Louisville Nov. 11 in a showdown of expected top 10 teams.
Kentucky coach Mark Pope recently went to Tampa to visit Quaintance, who committed to UK but flipped to Arizona State after John Calipari went to Arkansas.
Pope has called Quaintance a “hulking mass of physicality” and Quaintance said his new coach just wanted to check out his rehab was going.
“It was good just being able to see him in person,” Quaintance told Torres.
Quaintance said he felt like “had to find a program [that] fit my play style a little bit better” after spending last season at Arizona State. He felt UK was the “perfect spot” for him.
“They have a better basketball environment as well. They have more fan support so that was a big part of it. As well as fitting my play style a little bit better so I could show off my versatility and flourish in a different role,” Quaintance said.
“I feel like I didn’t really scratch the surface of all that I can do. I didn’t feel like I got to show off how good I am as a passer, how good I am in transition, how good I am actually handling the ball. I feel like I shot really poorly last year. I feel like I’m going to have a lot better shooting year this year, so there are a lot of tools I haven’t gotten to show off this year, and I’m really excited to show that off at this level.”
That’s what Pope is waiting to see from a player many believe could be a top 10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
“We’re really excited about Jayden. He is a hulking mass of like, physicality and the greatest kid you’re ever going to meet in your life,” Pope told CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. “He’s been incredibly diligent about his rehab. He’s doing [it with] some incredible doctors, and we’re working really hard to make this transition of care, this continuity of care, is going to be really important for him, but he’s going to race back and get healthy and strong as soon as he can and he’ll be a big part of our deal.”
Quaintance said he could tell Kentucky “really wanted me” and Pope’s faster pace of play will help him “show off my versatility” next season.
“Seeing how well they did last year, how their system works, how freely their system operates, that was good for me to see exactly how I would fit there,” Quaintance said. “(Having) a real chance to win next year, that was also a big part of it.
“They have a lot of good guys over there, a very structured program, so I felt like we have a real good chance to win the national championship next year.”
3 Responses
I fractured 3 bones in my foot I also fractured my ankle and my shin. This occurred on January 1st from a car wreck. The doctor said I’d be able to walk in 3 months with a boot on after 2 and a half months my idiot self tried wearing shoes for a day and it set me back another month for doing so. I’m just starting to walk around but I noticed the more active I was the more it would swell and be very sore. So I understand him wanting to sit the Lexington visit out because its really for nothing right now and healing should be his #1 goal right now.
That is the problem with these types of injuries; if you try to come back too soon, it only gets worse. Who knows when Quaintance is going to be back and at what level? Garrison is due for a breakout season. Jelavic will be the starting 4. Potter can play the 4 and the 5; Dioubate can play the 4 in a pinch. Moreno can be the emergency backup if all else fails. If Dioubate has to play the 4 at times, Williams will be a solid 3 with Noah as his backup. If Oweh stays in the draft, Chandler gets his shot at the 2 with Johnson. Lowe and Aberdeen will be at the point. We can cover the positions without Quaintance coming back too soon. Why would Quaintance want to risk his NBA career by coming back too soon? He will be a first round pick even if he doesn’t play at all.
I agree, Barry. I would take some loses before letting him come back too soon. Things like this force you to look at the long range Big Picture.