A projected top-five pick in the 2026 NBA draft, has pledged his commitment to Mark Pope and Kentucky, as confirmed by his father, Haminn Quaintance, in an ESPN report on Tuesday. This comes nearly a year after Quaintance initially decommitted from the Wildcats.
“We’ve always had an affinity for Kentucky,” said Haminn Quaintance. “He was previously committed there before John Calipari moved to Arkansas, which is why we ended up at Arizona State. We hoped they’d revisit recruiting him, and this time, it really felt like Coach Pope wanted him to be part of the program.”
Quaintance chose Kentucky over other schools such as Auburn, USC, Kansas, and Ohio State.
In his freshman season, Quaintance earned spots on the Big 12 All-Freshman and All-Defensive teams, becoming only the fifth player in conference history to achieve such honors. He averaged 9.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks in 29 minutes per game.
Despite being the youngest player in college basketball last season, Quaintance made an immediate impact. He entered college at just 16 years old after graduating early from high school. Due to the NBA’s age limit, he won’t be eligible for the 2025 draft, as players must turn 19 in the draft year. Quaintance played the entire season as a 17-year-old, an incredibly rare feat.
Quaintance suffered a knee injury on February 23 against Kansas State, which required surgery on March 19 to repair a torn ACL. His father mentioned that doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix anticipate he will be cleared for contact within six months and should be ready for the season’s start in November.
“Kentucky provided us with a comprehensive plan for Jayden’s recovery with their trainers and how they plan to use him once healthy,” Haminn Quaintance explained. “The way they use their big men offensively really suits him. He didn’t want to go to a school where he’d just be a screen setter. Coach Pope made him feel valued, and they delved deeply into analytics—going into areas many coaches overlook.”
At 6-foot-10, Quaintance was one of the best shot blockers in college basketball, with a 7-5 wingspan, impressive mobility, and strong instincts on both ends of the floor. He’s a skilled passer, capable of creating his own shot from the perimeter or finishing in pick-and-roll situations. His versatility allows him to defend multiple positions.
Regarded as one of the top players in the transfer portal, Quaintance will be closely watched by NBA scouts next season in Lexington.
Kentucky’s roster will undergo significant changes this offseason, with seven of its top nine scorers graduating: Amari Williams, Andrew Carr, Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson, Koby Brea, Ansley Almonor, and Kerr Kriisa, who transferred to Cincinnati.
Coach Pope has already bolstered the roster with several transfers, including Pitt guard Jaland Lowe, Alabama big man Mouhamed Dioubate, and Tulane forward Kam Williams. The Wildcats will also welcome three highly touted freshmen: point guard Acaden Lewis, shooting guard Jasper Johnson, and big man Malachi Moreno.
Along with Duke, Kentucky is actively pursuing Nate Ament, a highly ranked high school senior and another projected top-5 pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
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