The new Wildcats big man hopes to be ready for the start of the 2025-2026 season.
If there’s a wild card going into the Kentucky Wildcats’ 2025-26 season, it could be the health of Jayden Quaintance at the start of the season and, potentially, during it.
Quaintance is recovering from a torn ACL he sustained in late February last season when he was playing for the Arizona State Sun Devils. His injury shortened a season where he was averaging 2.6 blocks per game, in addition to 9.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
Now with the Wildcats, a program he was originally committed to before John Calipari left for Arkansas in April of 2024, Quaintance recently gave a positive update on his recovery with the season now less than four months away.
“I’ve been progressing pretty well,” Quaintance said while declining to put a timetable on his recovery. “I’ve been trusting the trainers and coaches to try and get me right. Mentally, I’ve just been kind of focusing on the next step and kind of also focusing on the moment.
“I never really was too down because that was late in the season. I’d have a lot of time to recover, and dwelling on things doesn’t really help you get better. I was always focused on the next step and trying to build myself and see what I could do to get better faster.”
Keep in mind, Quaintance turns just 18 years old on Friday. That’s a really mature answer for someone his age, and it shows that he’s ready to embrace a significant role at a program like Kentucky.
Quaintance’s shot-blocking and rebounding will be an integral part of Kentucky’s frontcourt this season. If he’s healthy to start this season, the Wildcats will benefit heavily from it.
6’10 PF Jayden Quaintance.
One of the best defensive prospects I’ve ever evaluated at just 17 years old (!) — 29.4% dFG on jumpshots + 42% dFG at the rim. Strong interior scoring (69.2% rim FG). Elite rebounding & leaping skill. Emerging mid-range/outside shot.
#4 on my board. https://t.co/34OKUVN4a1 pic.twitter.com/z8yrl5HMfG
— Mohamed (@mcfNBA) July 7, 2025
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