“They’re gonna get a winner.”

That was Jayden Quaintance’s first response when he was asked, in an interview with the Field of 68 podcast, what Kentucky fans should expect from his commitment. “I go out to win every game I play.”

While many recruits change schools and the transfer portal is essentially the primary way to build a team in college basketball today, few players commit to a school, leave, and then are welcomed back with open arms. Quaintance’s case, however, is unique.

The five-star big had originally committed to Kentucky under John Calipari for the 2024-25′ season; once Cal left for Arkansas, like almost everybody else, Quaintance exercised the same option.

He’d go on to spend his freshman year at Arizona State where, before suffering an ACL injury that put him out for the season, he averaged nine points, eight boards, and a staggering three blocks per game. By all metrics, he’s one of the most tenacious and effective defenders in the nation when he’s on the floor.

And now? He’s back in Kentucky blue, for real this time.

“The best fit for me”

“The coach showed the most interest out of anybody I talked to. He seemed really excited to have me here…” said Quaintance, of being recruited to Kentucky by Mark Pope the second time around. “So I feel like this was the best fit for me, especially with Pope being like a bigger player… he kind of knows what I have to go through and what I have to work on really well.”

Quaintance also praised Pope’s offensive system, calling it “open,” and focusing on his ability to play in space and “make the next pass.” There are few scoring minds as proficient as Coach Pope’s, and plugging Quaintance into a system like Kentucky’s should mean endless opportunities for his game to grow on that end.

Regarding his injury, Quaintance expects to be back on the court in contact play by September, two months before the 2025-26′ season begins. “Recovery has been going really well,” he said.

The stars seem to be aligning for Kentucky to have “JQ” ready for action by tipoff this fall, and much like Kentucky fans, he’s got eyes on the prize: “We have a real chance to win a national title.”

Mark Pope understands the assignment, and so do the players he recruits.

In a shocking, late at night turn of events, four-star freshman Acaden Lewis has decommitted from Kentucky.

Lewis, a 6’3” point guard out of Washington, D.C. first committed to the blue and white in November of last year, following an in-person visit with Mark Pope in his hometown.

Since then, he’s made multiple appearances in Rupp Arena, been featured in photo shoots with his fellow incoming recruits, and spoken on multiple occasions about his excitement to join the team for the 2025-26’ season.

To say this development is surprising would be a serious understatement.

Lewis released a statement following the announcement, “This was an incredibly difficult decision, but I have to do what’s best for my future,” he said. “Thank you to Coach Pope and the whole Kentucky staff for all they’ve done for me so far.”

While the loss of Lewis is certainly disappointing, there is still much to look forward to next season for Kentucky, who maintain one of the highest rated transfer classes in the nation – and it likely isn’t finished.

To that point, if any reason can be derived immediately for Lewis’ decommitment, it may be found in the same place that Mark Pope and staff will be going to look for answers: the transfer portal.

As Mark Pope tears his way through the transfer portal and dominos begin to fall, many folks forget that the commitments he secures aren’t official until the player’s pens hit paper. For three new Kentucky transfers, doubling down took no time at all.

Kam Williams, a sophomore forward from Tulane, Jaland Lowe, a junior guard out of Pittsburgh, and Mouhamed Dioubate, a junior forward formerly with Alabama, all made their commitments to the ‘Cats official in the waning days of this week, as reported first by On3’s Pete Nakos on X (Twitter).

The tri-signing took place in the wake of Jayden Quaintance’s (a five star center out of Arizona State) commitment to Kentucky just days before, becoming Mark Pope’s fourth transfer add-on in a transfer class that is currently listed as the best in the nation on On3’s ongoing ranking – for reference, Louisville is in the fifth spot, and Tennessee the eighth.

Between the Lines

Williams, in his lone season with the Green Wave averaged nine points and five rebounds on 49% shooting, boasting high offensive upside and athletic ability. He has the potential to develop into an Otega Oweh-like prototype, perhaps furthered by the fact that he could follow him off the bench next season. An invaluable long-term signing for Kentucky.

Lowe, on the other hand, is a do-it-all point guard who put up 17/4/5 on average for the Panthers last season. At 6’3″, 175, he’s built for the unmatched athleticism of the SEC, bringing an average two steals per game to a role that was left open by one of the best defensive guards in college basketball in Lamont Butler. Pope got his PG1 replacement with Lowe.

Last but certainly not least, Dioubate shot upwards of 62% from the field last season, scoring 10 points per game and adding six boards, one block and one steal to boot. In just one offseason at Alabama, he managed to improve his percentage from long range from 9% to 46%; he’s a problem on both ends, and provides the Wildcats with a new brand of physicality unlike anything Pope’s first team had on hand.

With the aforementioned Quaintance set to sign next and multiple targets remaining on the board, Mark Pope is off to as hot a start as anyone could’ve expected in his sophomore year at the helm.

The best part of it all? This is only the beginning.