Jayden Quaintance injury update: Mark Pope offers optimistic news on Kentucky forward

The Kentucky mens’ basketball team’s season is officially underway and, with each day, the Wildcats’ roster comes closer to being at full-strength. On Thursday, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope provided an update on sophomore big man Jayden Quaintance, who is recovering from a torn ACL.

“Pope adds that Jayden Quaintance remains way ahead of schedule and is starting to be on the court for some 5v5 stuff with minimal contact. Another big strength test coming up, but looking good. Little to no asymmetry in those two knees,” Cats Illustrated‘s Jeff Drummond wrote on X.

Quaintance tore his ACL in February at Arizona State before transferring to Kentucky in April. Quaintance started in all 24 of his appearances for the Sun Devils, averaging 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 52.5% from the field. He shot 6-32 (18.8%) from 3-point range last season.

Quaintance was even more imposing on defense than he was on offense. He averaged 2.6 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. For his efforts, he was named an All-Big 12 Defensive Team selection and an All-Freshman Team member.

Mark Pope has repeatedly said Quaintance’s recovery is ahead of schedule. With a grueling non-conference schedule ahead, the Wildcats will be happy to have Quaintance on the court as soon as possible.

After all, Quaintance is expected to play a significant role for Kentucky this season. In June, ESPN’s NBA Draft expert Jonathan Givony raved about Quaintance’s potential.

“While Quaintance is quite raw from a skill perspective, particularly his jump shot, and has a lot to learn with his overall technique and ability to process the floor, his extreme youth for the college level earns him benefit of the doubt, and NBA scouts will be eager to see whether he can take another step forward after transferring to Kentucky,” Givony wrote. “He’ll have a major platform there to try to solidify himself as a lottery talent, but there’s a lot of refinement that has to happen before he’s NBA-ready.”

Givony isn’t the only expert with high expectations for Quaintance. Last Friday, Quaintance was named to the preseason watchlist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.

Upon his return, Quaintance will rotate in with Kentucky bigs Brandon Garrison, Malachi Moreno and Andrija Jelavic. Kentucky won its season-opener against Nicholls State 77-51 on Tuesday. On Friday, the Wildcats will face off against Valparaiso at 7 p.m. ET.