Jayden Quaintance pushes back Kentucky official visit

Kentucky‘s prized recruiting target, five-star forward Jayden Quaintance, will not be taking an official visit to Lexington this weekend. Instead, the nation’s No. 6 overall prospect and No. 1 center will make the trip to UK on October 27, his father tells KSR.

The visit shake-up allows Quaintance to attend the Wildcats’ exhibition matchup against Georgetown College, scheduled for the evening of Oct. 27 inside Rupp Arena. Kentucky will be in Northern Kentucky this weekend for the program’s annual Blue-White Game, that scrimmage scheduled for Oct. 21.

Travis Graf of MADE Hoops and Cats Illustrated was the first to break the news.

The 6-foot-10, 225-pound prospect out of Cleveland is considered the most versatile big in his class, fluid and quick with powerful and vicious finishing abilities. Quaintance is comfortable putting the ball on the floor and attacking the basket, but continues to expand his range and consistency as a jump shooter. And he’s got the length and athleticism to be a terror as a rim protector.

Making the jump to 2024

Reclassifying to 2024 this summer, he’s got a chance to finish ranked No. 1 overall in his class when it’s all said and done. And maybe the most exciting part of it all? He just turned 16 in July, meaning he must stay in college two years before entering the 2026 NBA Draft if that’s the path he decides to take.

“I’ve been playing up my whole life. Since forever, I’ve been playing older kids so it just seems like the right decision,” he told KSR in July. “And if you get to college sooner, why not?”

Quaintance took officials to Ohio State, Missouri and USF in September, followed by an official to Florida on Oct. 13.

Visits and previewing a decision

What has he been looking for on these trips as he inches closer toward a final decision?

“Being with the team, seeing what the team thinks about the program, why they stay there and what they like about it. What the coaches are talking about,” he said. “And another main thing is education, I want to see what the academics are like. Those are the main things.”

As for his commitment, he’ll be prioritizing role, roster makeup and locker room chemistry when it comes time to take the next step.

“What the team looks like and who they already have, what role I’m going to have on the team,” Quaintance told KSR. “Am I going to be able to show off what I have? Will I have a green light? And what are the coaches like? How are they interacting with the players? Those things.”

And what will the program of his choosing be getting for those two years?

“A hard worker, someone who will give it his all no matter where I go,” he said. “I’m just trying to be the best that I can, give everything I have. I’m going to do whatever it takes to win games.”

John Calipari hopes he decides to win games at the University of Kentucky.