BB Recruiting

2024 Jayden Quaintance Updates Recruitment With KY Insider

Published

3 years ago

July 31, 2023

One of the top players in the class of 2024, Top-10 prospect Jayden Quaintance recently reclassified, and has shown why here lately. All of the physical tools you want in a big man, he is very impressive with his size and physicality.

KY Insider was on hand this weekend at the MADE Hoops High School Academy to catch Quaintance in action, where he shined all weekend. In other words, he was nearly unstoppable with his overwhelming size and strength compared to the others. He did whatever he wanted, getting to the rim at will, and making his big presence known on defense.

Quaintance took the time to speak with KY Insider to discuss the latest in his recruitment after recently reclassifying to 2024.

How has the move to 2024 been for you?

“I’ve been playing up (17U division) all summer anyway, so I feel like I’ve been holding my ground and I’ve been doing pretty well, so I feel like it’s a good tool to get to college a little quicker.”

Your one of the top players in your class. Tell me about your game.

“I play fast, I’m really versatile, more versatile than a lot of people my size.” He later expanded more on his game: “I feel like I bring a lot defensively, offensively I can score inside and out. I can handle the ball better than a lot of people realize. I can do a lot of different things on offense and defense.

Who are the schools showing you the most interest?

“Cincinnati, Washington, Ohio State, and Kentucky.”

What’s your relationship like with those schools?

“Those are coaches that I’m able to talk to on the phone. I’ve visited all of them but Washington, but we’ve got a visit set up for there. Yeah, just talking to the coaches and getting to know them.”

Could you tell me more about your relationship with Kentucky?

“When I went up to Kentucky for an official visit, I got to talk to Coach Cal, see a practice, see what the environment was like there, walked around the campus, see what the main gym looked like, the atmosphere. It was cool.”

Can you tell me about your dreams of playing in the NBA?

“I wanna be the best player that I can be. I feel like I can be a NBA All-Star. I put my everything into getting better, and being the best player that I can be.”

Do you have any more visits you’re looking to take?

“I’m doing an official (visit) to Ohio State, Cincinnati, Washington, but I don’t think we have Kentucky set yet.

When are you looking to take those visits?

“September and October.”

What’s Kentucky’s pitch to you right now?

“They like how I play fast, and how I’m a lot more quicker on my feet than a lot of bigs. They like that, they would use me at a position to utilize that, my quickness.”

How often do you talk with Kentucky? Daily?

“Nah, I’m only allowed to talk to every coach, like, they’re only allowed to talk like once a week-ish. Coach said I could call him anytime if I want to talk to him, he said he’s not the type to blow up my phone, so he’s always available if I wanna talk to him. But, nah, the communication is good.”

Is there an important factor in your recruitment?

“Just knowing they’ll put trust in me, let me rock out and show what I can do, show my versatility and my skills, and make sure it’s just the right fit, coaching style is good, environment is good.”

Quaintance made sure people are paying attention to him as one of the top players in 2024. His physical tools are all there, and his size and physicality was on full display throughout the weekend, dominating his competition.

Check out some highlight’s of him from MADE Hoops HSA below.

Jayden Quaintance, the no. 2 overall prospect in 2024, had his way on Day 1 of Midwest HSA 💨👿

👥 https://t.co/GKoXqrFJeO pic.twitter.com/hidS0fEq7k— MADE Hoops (@madehoops) July 29, 2023

Related Topics:Cincinnati Ohio State Washington

BB Recruiting

Kentucky Basketball Receives Prediction to Land International Star Nikola Kusturica

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Kentucky basketball has taken over as the favorite for Serbian star Nikola Kusturica, a projected lottery pick in 2028, with a prediction backing the Wildcats.

Just when many believed Kentucky’s roster was complete in terms of contributing players, Mark Pope might have an ace up his sleeve.

Last week, it was reported that Kentucky was among the frontrunners to land 6-foot-8 Serbian wing Nikola Kusturica. At the time, Gonzaga was thought to be the team to beat, having a more defined role to offer, compared to Kentucky, who has one remaining roster spot and a good amount of depth in wing positions.

Since then, things have shifted in a big way.

Gonzaga received a commitment from 18-year-old French guard Juwan Ekanga-Ehawa on Sunday. By Tuesday night, the Wildcats received a Crystal Ball prediction from 247Sports’ Travis Branham to land Kusturica, with a confidence level of 7 out of 10.

The 6-foot-8 wing currently plays for FC Barcelona in Spain’s Liga ACB and EuroLeague system. He just turned 17 years old and is reportedly seeking a two-year college opportunity before becoming draft-eligible in 2028, where he is already being projected as a lottery pick.

The on-court résumé speaks for itself. In the 2025 FIBA U16 EuroBasket, he averaged 20 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game while leading Serbia to a championship and was named tournament MVP. He also helped Barcelona capture the Adidas NextGen Finals championship last month, posting 20 points and 10 rebounds in the title game against Real Madrid.

Next, Kusturica will represent Serbia in the FIBA U17 World Cup from June 27 to July 5, and a college decision could come before then.

Mark Pope is carrying a lot of momentum in recent weeks after retaining Malachi Moreno and adding Milan Momcilovic to this season’s roster, as well as landing the first top 10 prospect of his career in Ryan Hampton. If he can close on Kusturica, that would cap off the roster in a significant way and continue to change the narrative around his recruiting ability.

BB Recruiting

Kentucky Earns Commitment From No. 6 Prospect in 2027 Class Ryan Hampton

Published

2 weeks ago

June 7, 2026

Kai McClelland

Photo via UK Athletics

How about a Sunday boom in the recruiting world for you BBN?

Ryan Hampton, the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2027 class, has officially committed to the University of Kentucky! This is Mark Pope’s first top-10 prospect that he’s earned a commitment from.

Hailing from Rockwall, Texas, Hampton recently took an official visit to campus with his family, which began on Friday, June 5 and spilled into Sunday, June 7, his commitment day.

The five-star wing averaged 21.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during the most recent EYBL Circuit, playing for LivOn and Nightrydas.

Hampton was the first recruit in the 2027 to officially visit with the Wildcats, and now he’s the first to call their shot early and choose the blue and white.

Pope has signed Milan Momcilovic, the No. 2 ranked transfer, and Hampton, his first top-10 high school prospect just in the past week.

It’s been a crazy week for recruiting, with the narrative around Pope’s ability slowing fading as the top guys continue to be attracted to the Kentucky brand.

BB Recruiting

Fast Riser Big Man Yann Kamagate Receives Scholarship Offer From Kentucky

Published

1 month ago

May 18, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Fresh off the first live recruiting period of the offseason, Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats have extended their first scholarship offer of the 2028 class.

Yann Kamagate, a prospect who went from unranked to the top five in 247Sports’ most recent recruiting rankings, received an offer from the Wildcats, he confirmed to KY Insider on Monday.

“Not everyone gets the chance to be seen by greatness,” Kamagate told KY Insider. “I’m grateful for the offer from Kentucky.”

Kentucky assistant coach Mikhail McLean, who works with the Wildcats’ big men and their development, watched Kamagate first-hand this past weekend in the Adidas 3SSB circuit in Mishawaka, Indiana.

The 7-foot big man was the talk of the weekend, displaying a high motor, extreme athleticism — a reported 7-9 winspam — and great feel for the game. On the circuit, he is averaging 13.9 points, a circuit-leading 10.4 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game.

Originally from the West African country of Burkina Faso, Kamagate moved to the United States just a year ago and has only been playing basketball for three years. Now, he is challenging for the top spot in the 2028 class.

He is currently represented by former NBA player and UCLA star Luc Mbah a Moute. Which is relevant as he is currently playing for the California Adidas team, Compton Magic, and attends La Cañada Flintridge (Calif.) St. Francis.

The offer is the latest signal that Mark Pope’s staff is casting a wide and aggressive net this offseason, and targeting players whose trajectories are trending sharply upward. Kamagate fits that profile exactly.