Just how high the ceiling for Mark Pope‘s second Kentucky team can reach doesn’t depend entirely on Jayden Quaintance‘s right knee, but it certainly plays a significant role. Still only 17 years old (for a few more days, at least) and coming off a freshman season at Arizona State that saw him make the Big 12’s All-Defensive and All-Freshman Teams, the 6-foot-9 big man is a projected lottery pick next year.
Kentucky would still be among the deepest and most talented teams in the country going into 2025-26 without him, but a healthy Quiantance can put the Wildcats in that championship-caliber tier. He tore his ACL late in the game against Kansas State on Feb. 23 after beating a smaller defender off the dribble and landing awkwardly on a shot attempt.
“I was loading up for a dunk, I got pushed a little bit in the back, and my knee collapsed in,” Quaintance told reporters Tuesday. “In the moment, I didn’t really think much of it, just trying to get back in the game, but obviously, I did end up tearing it.”
Quaintance underwent successful surgery to repair the torn ligament in his knee on March 19. Full recovery from an ACL tear can take anywhere from 6-12 months — it’s dependent on the recovery process and how the person approaches that rehabilitation. Quaintance has been putting his full trust in the Kentucky staff to get him right on an appropriate timeline.
“I’ve been feeling great, you know. I’ve been progressing pretty well, I’ve been trusting the trainers and the coaches to try and get me right,” He said. “Mentally, I’ve just been kinda focusing on the next step and also focusing on the moment. Been feeling really good.”
Quaintance told reporters there is no set timetable for his return. He’s said previously that the hope is to be fully healthy by September (roughly six months from the time of his surgery), but right now, he continues to be a non-participating observer in practice — taking notes and paying as much attention to Pope’s terminology as possible. He works on free throws and his shooting form during downtime. Whenever he’s spotted in practice photos or highlights, a skin-tight wrap the length of his leg can be seen covering his right knee.
When his time comes, he’ll be ready, but until the doctors clear him as 100 percent healthy, the rising sophomore will continue to believe in and work through the recovery process with his trainers and coaches.
“Just trusting them all the way through,” Quaintance added.
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