At just 17 years old, Jayden Quaintance has already made his presence known in the college basketball landscape.

After suffering an ACL injury toward the end of his freshman season at Arizona State, the 6-foot-10 forward is headed to Kentucky with something to prove.

“I felt like Kentucky was that perfect spot,” Quaintance said recently on the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast. “I feel like I have a lot more confidence, you know, knowing where my baseline is. It’s really only up from here.”

Despite the setback, he confirmed he expects to be on the floor when the Wildcats tip off their season against Louisville on Nov. 11.

Quaintance’s decision to commit to Kentucky — not once, but twice — has been one of the more compelling storylines of the Wildcats’ offseason.

Originally part of John Calipari’s final recruiting class in Lexington, the North Carolina native entered the transfer portal following Calipari’s departure, only to return under new head coach Mark Pope, who made clear that he saw Quaintance as more than just a traditional big man.

“It felt like they really wanted me here,” Quaintance said of Pope and his staff. “The sales pitch was kind of more getting to show off what I could do a little bit more offensively, you know, have a real chance to win next year. I feel like that was also a big part of it.”

That promise of versatility has been central to Quaintance’s decision-making. Known in high school for his rim protection and physical tools, he’s eager to prove there’s much more to his game.

“I feel like I didn’t really scratch the surface of all that I can do,” he said of his time at Arizona State. “I didn’t feel like I got to show off how good I am as a passer, how good I am in transition, how good I am actually handling the ball.”

Now in Lexington, Quaintance joins a retooled Kentucky roster with a fresh identity and plenty of opportunity. His youth may stand out on paper, but his approach and awareness suggest a player far beyond his years — and NBA scouts have taken notice.

Quaintance remains a projected top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. His combination of size, mobility and upside fits the modern pro game, and his age only adds to his appeal.

With a projected full return by September and a system ready to showcase his complete skill set, Quaintance’s next chapter is taking shape in the Bluegrass.

Usually, we see the Wildcats and the Cardinals face off in December, but this time around we’ll see one of the biggest college basketball rivalries kick off both teams’ regular seasons.

The game is set for Nov. 11 and will be played at the KFC Yum! Center, marking the earliest meeting between both these squads in history.

Both head coaches Mark Pope and Pat Kelsey are entering their second seasons with their respective programs, making historic jumps and rallying fan bases back together.

Kentucky boasted a 24-12 record last season, tying the 1978-79 Duke Blue Devils and the 1992-93 Indiana Hoosiers for the most top-15 victories in a single season. It was also the most in Kentucky basketball history. Louisville finished second in the ACC with a 27-8 record in the 2024-25 season and appeared in the conference championship for the first time in history.

The Wildcats won last season’s matchup on Dec. 14 by a score of 93-85 inside of Rupp Arena. Lamont Butler scored a career-high 33 points, shooting perfect from the field.

With a 40-17 all-time record against Louisville, the Cats will look to charge into enemy territory and start their second season of the Pope era with a bang.

The week is off to a great start for the Kentucky Wildcats as they added 7-foot-2 Reece Potter to the roster on Monday.

Potter, a Lexington native, played two seasons at Miami (OH) before entering the transfer portal this offseason. He elected to fulfill a childhood dream to be a Kentucky Wildcat, choosing Kentucky over the likes of Dayton, North Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin.

In his own words, “They didn’t really have to sell me on anything,” Potter said to Kentucky Insider shortly after making it official with Mark Pope on Sunday night. “I have always known what the blue and white means, being a Kentucky kid, so it’s kind of hard to say no.”

Potter spoke with Kentucky Insider about his recruiting process, commitment to Kentucky, and more!

Q: You entered the transfer portal in late March. When did playing for Kentucky start to become a possibility?

Potter: It was definitely later. So, I had a bunch of colleges reach out to me in the beginning, and then Kentucky. Coach Fueger messaged me like a month ago or so, with the opportunity to talk to me and to start to get to know me. I was trying to get towards the end of my recruitment, but as soon as Kentucky contacted me, I was like, ‘Oh, well, that’s where I’m going.’

Q: What other schools were involved in your recruitment?

Potter: I talked to Dayton a lot. I went on a visit there. I was talking to Wisconsin a lot. I was talking to Washington a lot, and then North Carolina was probably the one leading. You know, I talked to Coach (Hubert) Davis, you know, you know, every week for a while.

Q: What was Kentucky’s most consistent message to you through your recruitment?

Potter: They didn’t have to sell me on much. You know, growing up as a Lexington kid, the Kentucky jersey is something you dream about. I got told by Reed, Travis, Trent, like, it’s a dream come true once you put on that jersey and walk into Rupp Arena and people are cheering you. That’s kind of what they were selling me on.

Then, just like the parts of developing. Every player last year. They mentioned the fifth-year guys last year, you know, Amari Williams, kind of the older players that had played a couple years of college basketball. Last year at Kentucky, they had bigger roles and kind of bigger minutes in the SEC, probably the best conference that’s ever been assembled last year, they all had better years last year, kind of as older players. It was just kind of crazy to me. You know, Lamont Butler had his most efficient year last year. Amari Williams came from a lower mid-major and had a better year. So that’s kind of what they sold me on, the developmental piece, and they’ve proven it.

Q: You still have two more years of eligibility. What is your goal for developing in that time? Will you finish your career out at Kentucky?

Potter: Yeah, I got a couple more years. I definitely got time to develop and kind of, you know, mold me into the player they can and they see. That’s the big thing I want to finish out my years at Kentucky. It’s home for me, like I grew up there. No place better to finish out my college career than at home.

Q: Now that you are committed, what part of playing at Kentucky excites you the most?

Potter: I grew up here, so I kind of knew a little bit about it. I knew Big Blue Nation was crazy, but I didn’t realize they were this crazy. This is kind of a surreal moment. It’s kind of like your dreams are coming true. I didn’t realize it last night when I told Coach Pope, now it’s hitting me. Just all the people reaching out, all the fans. It just, it’s kind of wild. It’s surreal.

Q: Mark Pope’s offense really fits big men that can shoot and pass. How do you feel like you can fit into that system?

Potter: It’s a get up a lot of threes, quick pace offense. More of an NBA style offense, which really intrigued me because the NBA’s kind of gone towards big men who can pass and shoot. That’s what they sold me on, and that’s what they do. Back to his (Pope) time at BYU and his other schools, that’s what they did. They had big men who could do multiple things. That’s kind of something I think I can get into and lean into.

Q: Who do you model your game after or study on film?

Potter: I would like to say (Nikola) Jokic. He’s awesome. The way he’s able to do stuff is just insane. He’s not the most athletic dude out there, but nobody can stop him. That’s kind of who I look at, and try to do similar things he does. You know, obviously, I wish I could do it at the same level he does.

Q: What are your greatest weaknesses?

Potter: Weaknesses, everybody points it out, it’s probably getting bigger and stronger. Being able to rebound in traffic and finishing through traffic. That’s definitely something I’m looking forward to improving next year.

Q: Most underrated part of your game?

Potter: Most underrated, I’d say my passing ability. Being able to make some tight passes for guards and wings cutting and stuff. That’s something I look at, being able to be a little bit more of being able to be a little bit more of a playmaker sometimes out there to help relieve the pressure from the guards that are always just getting hounded all game.

Q: You told me this staff “knows what it takes to win and how to develop players.” You could see that last season. Watching from afar, how impressed were you with Mark Pope’s first season?

Potter: It was extremely impressive. It was a group of people who weren’t the highly, most recruited people. Obviously, they should have been. Some people missed on that. You know, they got it done last year. The way Coach Pope and the staff were able to just gel that team together was very impressive to watch from an outsider. I know that took lots of practices, lots of communication, and then they were able to get it done. They had many top wins last year, just every time you think they would lose, they got it done on the court. So that’s just it’s how Coach Pope does it.

Q: I’ve talked to multiple players about how different Coach Pope is compared to coaches they’ve had in the past.

Potter: Coach Pope is definitely a different type of coach that I’ve ever had before. Usually, a lot more anger, a lot different type of word choice than he probably uses. That definitely stands out to me the most, just how positive a guy he is. He’s just always trying to make his players feel good because that translates onto the court. He instills confidence in his players, which is really important to me.

Q: You mentioned talking with some friends, former and current Kentucky alums. What did you talk about?

Potter: I talked to a couple of them. So, I’m friends with Malachi, and then I’m friends with Travis and Trent and them. So, I talked to them a little bit throughout the years, just what it meant to them and how fun it was to play in that atmosphere, and how fun it was to put on that jersey. They were able to ‘hook’ me with that stuff.

Q: Are you ready to battle against Malachi?

Potter: We used to go at each other back in high school. So those were fun days. He’s a great athlete. I mean, he’s 7’1″. He blocks everything. So, it’s definitely fun to go against him. He’s a top talent. I mean, they’re considering him a lottery pick. So obviously, it’s going to be fun to go against that type of talent every day with him and then all the rest of the bigs.

Q: Two years into college basketball, what have you learned on and off the court that has made you better as a player coming to Kentucky?

Potter: Consistency. You’ve got to be an everyday guy in college. Whether it’s stretching, doing rehab, getting shots up. I mean, if you don’t — everybody’s a top talent. In high school, you can get away with it, but in college, everybody is trying to work hard to get to the next level and get to their dreams. So just being consistent, working every day, because you have to at this level.

Q: How was your quiet visit to Kentucky?

Potter: I didn’t really do a visit. I mean, I’m from Lexington, so it was kind of like, I could have shown them around, honestly.

Q: Being around Kentucky and playing at Miami, there are big differences between the programs. Can you talk about that?

Potter: Miami was great. It was a great place, a great mid-major. They compete for MAC championships every year. I’d probably say that’s probably the biggest difference. At Miami, we were competing for MAC championships to try to upset teams. At Kentucky, you’re competing for national championships, and you’re the one teams try to upset.

Q: You mentioned being a Kentucky kid, growing up, I assume you were a Kentucky fan. What are some of your favorite Kentucky basketball moments/memories?

Potter: I definitely grew up a Kentucky fan.

I’d probably say the team that won it all with Anthony Davis. That was just how talented that group was. I feel like the whole team got drafted in the first round, so probably that.

Q: Who is your favorite Kentucky player?

Potter: I feel like I have to say Daniel Orton. I trained with him my whole high school career, so I feel like I have to say him or he’ll get mad. Otherwise, I’d probably have to say his leading man, Demarcus Cousins, just how dominant he was in college. He’ll probably get a laugh out of that, I think.

Q: What are your biggest interests outside of basketball?

Potter: Definitely just hanging out with my teammates and friends. Those are your guys. Those have become some of your best friends. I’m just hanging out with them, watching movies, going to play golf, just stuff like that. Just being around them as much as possible because that’s what builds a team. That’s what influences winning.

Q: You were a talented pitcher in HS. What made you strictly focus on basketball?

Potter: Yeah, it’s actually kind of a funny story. I never played AAU other than when I was very young. I always played basketball in the winter and baseball in the summer. Going into my junior year, I tore my elbow again for the second time, and I had to get surgery again. One of the AAU teams reached out to me, and I had nothing to do. My elbow was torn. I couldn’t go play baseball. So, I was like, ‘I might as well just go play basketball this weekend.’ I ended up playing against a top five-star prospect and had a pretty good game. I got reached out to by Xavier and a couple of other big schools. I was like, oh, well, I might want to keep doing this.

After that, I just kept playing the rest of the summer, still thinking I wanted to play baseball. Then I had quite a few top offers and I was like, ‘Ah, I should probably pursue this.’ That’s when I started taking things really seriously. It took off from there.

Q: What’s something unique about you that people may not know, on or off the court?

Potter: I have a great driver. I would probably say that. I’m terrible at golf. I’m probably like a plus 12 (handicap) or something. I’m horrible. But I’m a great driver and I’m terrible at everything else. I swing like it’s a baseball bat, and somehow I hit it straight.