Jayden Quaintance Knows His UK Basketball History

Kentucky sophomore Jayden Quaintance hopes he can meet Willie Cauley-Stein, right, next week. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Jayden Quaintance is only 17 years old and had barely started elementary school when Willie Cauley-Stein was a consensus All-American and national defensive player of the year in 2015 at Kentucky.

Quaintance, a sophomore transfer from Arizona State, likely will have a chance to cross paths with Cauley-Stein next week when the former Wildcat is back in Lexington playing for La Familia, UK’s alumni team, in The Basketball Tournament (TBT).

“If I get the chance, definitely just kind of get in their ear, pick their brain, see what tips they have, having been to where I’m trying to go,” Quaintance said Tuesday when asked if he hoped to interact with the La Familia players.

Quaintance had his first UK media session Tuesday and showed he did know about UK basketball history. He named Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Davis, two of John Calipari’s stars for one season who are now NBA stars, who played center like he does.

While Quaintance likes Towns’ versatility for a player his size, he told media members his game is more like Davis’ game.

“I feel like he plays in a way that’s pretty similar to me. Really good defensively, plays with that level of physicality and intensity,” Quaintance said. “I feel like I try to model after that, and then he’s also able to be a force on the offensive side of the ball as well.”

One reason Quaintance came to Kentucky to play for coach Mark Pope, a starting center on UK’s 1996 national championship team and a former NBA player.

“It’s very different, but I’ve been enjoying it,” Quaintance said about playing for Pope. “He’s been able to give me pointers, give me tips. He’s been there and done that, so, you know, that is always good knowledge.

“He knows so much about the game. It’s been really interesting to pick his brain and talk to him about what he feels that I need to work on and how I can improve my game.”