Jayden Quaintance injury update: Kentucky transfer addition shares latest on recovery, anticipated return date

The only concern with Kentucky’s massive addition of Jayden Quaintance in the transfer portal is that he’s coming off an ACL surgery three weeks ago. The focus from them, though, continues to be that he’ll be ready and available in the fall by the time the season tips off this winter.

After committing to the Wildcats out of the portal on Tuesday, Quaintance called in for an interview this morning on Kentucky Sports Radio. When asked about his injury, he said that his rehab from the surgery has gone well with them circling September for his return to activity.

“Uh, yeah, you know, rehab has been going really well,” said Quaintance. “I’ve been ahead of schedule, you know. The scar is healing up well. Getting a lot of swelling down, getting my quad strengthened really well. So, uh, rehabs been going really good, um.”

“We’re aiming to get back around September. And, yeah, rehabs been going well,” Quaintance said.

Quaintance, the No. 3 overall transfer currently per On3’s 2025 Top Transfer Portal Players, became the fourth addition in the portal during this cycle for UK. It’s actually his second commitment to the program after originally doing so as their top signee in the 2024 class before John Calipari left. That led him to Arizona State for his freshman season where he made 24 appearances and averaged 9.4 points (52.5% FG), 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.5 assists, and 1.1 steals as a selection to the All-Defensive and All-Freshman Teams in the Big 12.

Now, once he’s back healthy and playing for Mark Pope instead, Quaintance thinks he’ll fit right within their offensive system. He kind of compared what they’re thinking to what Amari Williams was for the Wildcats this past season as a versatile big.

“I haven’t been able to watch too much but I feel like, from what I was shown on the film, uh, we play somewhat similar,” said Quaintance. “I feel like I’m going to be able to kind of take over that, that kind of role well and flourish in that, that kind of role.”

“Again, you know, they’ll be able to play through me at the top of the key to show off my, uh, offensive ability more, get to show off, uh, my shooting a little bit better, um. You know, playing in the pick-and-roll, being able to get downhill,” Quaintance said. “Just playing in a more open and faster-paced offense. I feel like I’ll fit well into that.”

This is already a big pickup for Kentucky in the NCAA Transfer Portal based on this skill set and upside along with their former familiarity. It’ll be even better in five months’ time assuming that he heals as well as they’re expecting him too.