Film Room: Jayden Quaintance

It isn’t how you start, it is how you finish. Admittedly, it isn’t like the Kentucky Wildcats were in a bad position to begin the early signing period. Five-star point guard Boogie Fland and four-star center Somto Cyril put pen to paper to officially join the ‘Cats. However, nobody expected Travis Perry to join the party and the Jayden Quaintance recruitment was expected to play out awhile longer. That all quickly changed over the course of the last 48 to 72 hours. Perry surprised everyone in the recruiting world on Sunday afternoon announcing his commitment to Kentucky. Then, not long after, Quaintance’s father said a decision had been made and that an announcement would come before the end of the signing period.

That time ultimately came Tuesday afternoon when the five-star center committed to Kentucky. Quaintance immediately becomes the prize of the recruiting class as the #8 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking. Furthermore, the 16-year old, who reclassified from 2025, will have to spend two post-high school years before becoming eligible for the NBA Draft. Obviously he wouldn’t have to spend both in Lexington, but the idea of a sophomore year Jayden Quaintance isn’t a pipe dream.

There is no denying that Quaintance is one of the most talented players in high school basketball. The bruising 6’10” 225 pound big man is a load to handle physically while possessing a tantalizing skill set for his age. While he is neither an elite ball handler or shooter, he does both at a high level for his position. His physicality, footwork, and explosiveness on the interior though is what makes him one of the best big men in the country. There aren’t many guys who could come in at 17-years old and make an impact on the block at the high-major level, but Quaintance is that special of a prospect.

Just as we finished up in the KSR Film Room breaking down Travis Perry it was time to reenter and take a look at Jayden Quaintance. Coach Calipari’s most recent commitment is a potential game-changer with nearly unmatched potential. He is already an elite post presence, but what he could become with two years at Kentucky is almost scary. Let’s dive into the tape and breakdown what the Wildcats are getting in this five-star center.

Interior Dominance

There are some flashy parts to Jayden Quaintance’s game that allow you to dream about his potential. However, his bread still gets buttered on the low block. He is an above-the-rim finisher from the dunker’s spot, has elite footwork in the post, and can finish with both hands around the basket. Despite being as physically menacing as he is, there are times Quaintance shrinks on contact. That is likely just a product of his young age though. When that switch flips he is nearly impossible stop in the post. There are a ton of tools to work with and the five-star center looks to be the next great in a long line of successful Kentucky big men in the NBA.

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Quaintance’s ability and willingness to finish with his left hand around the rim is something that really stood out on film. He possesses such a naturally soft touch at the rim. On this possession he sets a physical ballscreen, opens up to the basket, absorbs contact, and finishes with his left hand. That isn’t some random guy he is scoring against either. #96 in white is Derik Queen, another one of the best big men in the country.

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Innate skill is good way to describe Kentucky’s newest commitment. Quaintance flashes really good hands on this play and collects himself with a strong power dribble. Being able to handle that pass takes some really, really good hands.

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Especially playing with guards like Boogie Fland and Reed Sheppard, Jayden Quaintance is going to make a living in the dunker’s spot. He seems to always be in the right position and is ready to receive the ball. Once he has it he is explosive and strong getting up above the rim. Excellent finisher.

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Just enjoy a couple of clips of Quaintance throwing it down hard. There are times that he appears to move in slow motion on the basketball floor, but when he gets the ball near the rim is not one of those times. He does a great job of getting the ball up to his chin quickly and he is truly explosive off of the floor when elevating to slam it home.

Positional Skill Level

Nobody is going to mistake Jayden Quaintance for Tre Mitchell next season. The two have entirely different skill sets. Quaintance is an excellent scorer at the rim who possesses high-level physical tools. Meanwhile, Mitchell is at his best stretching the floor to the perimeter as a shooter or passer. However, that being said, Quaintance does have an intriguing positional skill level. He isn’t a knockdown shooter by any means, but he shoots it pretty well for a 5-man. That is especially true from 12-15 feet. Similarly, he handles the ball well enough to drive it against other 5-men. His footwork and agility really stand out when he is operating with the ball. The five-star big man is going to be a matchup problem at the next level.

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This is the perfect example of what is meant by positional skill level. Quaintance catches the ball on the elbow and is able to operate in space to get a basket. That right-to-left crossover looks like a guard’s move and then he creates space with a couple of more bounces with his left. Being able to face-up and play in the mid-range will make it nearly impossible for opposing 5-men to guard him.

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It is hard to find a 6’10” prospect at his age with this level of agility and footwork. Jayden Quaintance is built like a center but moves like a wing. That behind the back dribble as he takes on contact is a very high level move. Then, he finishes with the little right handed hook shot at the front of the rim. You can’t teach that type of skill and touch.

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This clip has gone a bit viral in the last couple of days and rightfully so. The fluidity that it takes for a 6’10” 225 pound center to change directions with the ball like this is special. Also, you can get a glimpse of his explosiveness at the rim as well. Quaintance’s combination of strength, explosiveness, and agility is why he is considered one of the best prospects in the country.

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Jayden Quaintance could be really effective running some Horns alignment sets at Kentucky. He is excellent operating from the elbows because from there is a real threat to dribble, pass, or shoot it. Here you see him throw the perfect little pocket pass to the guard cutting backdoor. There are a lot of innate skills that Quaintance possesses that you simply cannot teach.

Rim Protection

It stands to reason that 6’10” prospect with this combination of size, strength, and athleticism would be a good shot blocker. Jayden Quaintance won’t have some of the highlight reel help side blocks that you saw from guys like Aaron Bradshaw or Ugonna Onyenso. However, he can be equally effective. Quaintance is a good positional defender, holds his own on the block, and has the length to consistently block shots with both hands. His strength allows him to lean on his man and get them off balance creating a better angle to block the shot. He might not block as many shots as some previous Kentucky 5-men, but he can be an equally effective interior defender.

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Here is more evidence of Jayden Quaintance’s footwork. He effectively stunts at the ball handler to cut off the baseline drive. Then, he is there on the other side of the ballscreen to make him pick up his dribble. Finally, Quaintance recovers, leans on Derik Queen, and swats the shot attempt out of bounds.

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Quaintance does a great job of staying between his man and the basket on this possession. His footwork allows him to slide from the free throw line down to the block and then his length comes through to deny the shot attempt. You can expect the five-star big man to be an effective interior defender as a Wildcat.

What Does All This Mean?

Coach Calipari got his prized target in the Class of 2024 with Jayden Quaintance. This was a heck of a recruiting battle, but Kentucky ultimately fended off the G-League, Florida, and Missouri to land the five-star center. Quaintance can be a two-way game changer at the rim with his unique combination of skill, size, agility, and strength. Most importantly, the 6’10” big man is very young and could be in a Wildcat uniform for two seasons. Alongside fellow five-star Boogie Fland, Quaintance gives the ‘Cats their cornerstone pieces of this recruiting cycle. Welcome to Big Blue Nation, JQ!