AAU and USA Basketball connections helped spark the Wildcats’ recruitment of their elite sophomore big man.
Jayden Quaintance may be new to the University of Kentucky, but his journey to Lexington was shaped well before he arrived on campus, and it started with a familiar face.
The 5-star sophomore big man credits fellow UK freshman Jasper Johnson as a key influence in his recruitment. Their connection dates back to their time together with AAU and also at the USA Basketball during the U18 camp, where they began forming a bond both on and off the court.
“Definitely. We talked about it because we are so successful. We all kind of talked about it. It was really interesting,” Quaintance told reporters recently. “I met with him at USA (basketball) when we did the camp for 18U. I’ve been around him a lot, and now it’s definitely a point of conversation.”
That friendship didn’t stop there. When Kentucky’s coaching staff began seriously pursuing Quaintance, it was Johnson who helped push the Wildcats’ pitch over the top.
“He was definitely one of the first guys to reach out and try to get me out here, so that was a big part of it, for sure,” Quaintance added.
Now reunited in Lexington, the two highly-touted freshmen are expected to play a major role for Mark Pope’s first Kentucky team. Their early chemistry could be a difference-maker as the Wildcats chase title No. 9 in 2025–26.