5-star '24 C Jayden Quaintance set to announce decision this week, per report

Five-star center Jayden Quaintance has made his decision.

According to CatsIllustrated’s David Sisk, Quaintance is set to make his college decision by the end of the Early Signing Period, which is set to expire at midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Quaintance, the No. 8 overall prospect in the class of 2024 per the On3 Industry Ranking, is down to two finalists: Kentucky and Missouri. The 6-foot-10 center was recently considering Florida, Ohio State, and the G League before cutting his options down to just the Wildcats and Tigers.

In July, Quaintance reclassified from the class of 2025 to 2024, meaning the 16-year-old will need to spend at least two years at the post-high school level before making the leap to the NBA. Sisk reports that Quaintance had originally planned on waiting until after the Early Signing Period ended to pick his school, but instead, he will now make a decision by the middle of this coming week.

Quaintance has taken official visits to both Kentucky (Oct. 27-29) and Missouri (Sept. 22-24). He was in Lexington to watch the Wildcats take down Georgetown College in a preseason exhibition game. Kentucky offered Quaintance in July and he’s since built close relationships with head coach John Calipari and assistant Chin Coleman.

“They have had a lot of success with previous draft picks. They’ve had guard success, but they’ve had good success with bigs, a lot more than other colleges,” Quaintance previously told On3 about Kentucky. “Coach Calipari has been showing a lot of love, and Coach Chin, too. Coach Cal has already come to Word of God twice to see me. We’ve been able to build a good relationship.”

Quaintance is currently playing in the Overtime Elite league for Word of God Christian Academy. Earlier this season, he went for 23 points (9-15 FG), eight rebounds, two assists, and two blocks in 32 minutes on Nov. 3 before recording 14 points (5-15 FG), nine rebounds, three assists, four steals, and four blocks in 36 minutes one day later. Here’s what On3 National Recruiting Analyst Jamie Shaw wrote about Quaintance’s game back in May.

“Jayden Quaintance is a strong and physical presence. He plays with a ferocity around the basket, hunting dunks every time he gets within 5 to 10 feet of the rim. He can push the break and has excellent court vision. Is very young for his grade. He is a good rebounder in and out of his area. He is quiet, but he plays with a toughness. He can slide his feet on defense, open his hips as he changes directions, and has natural timing with good length around the basket.”

Kentucky has already picked up one commitment in the Early Signing Period with Travis Perry‘s announcement on Sunday afternoon. Perry, a four-star point guard, joins a 2024 class that also features four-star point guard Boogie Fland and four-star center Somto Cyril. That trio ranks seventh nationally according to On3. Could Quaintance be next to join the fold?