Kentucky's Jayden Quaintance given long-awaited timetable for return from ACL injury

The Kentucky Wildcats have been on a tear this spring in the transfer portal. There’s no denying that head coach Mark Pope set out on a mission this offseason, and he’s doing everything in his power to improve on last year’s Sweet Sixteen team.

At a powerhouse program like Kentucky, Pope has significant resources at his disposal—especially in the NIL department. That funding is being put to good use this portal season, as it’s widely believed that Kentucky leads the nation in NIL support—and by a wide margin. If that’s true, Pope and his staff deserve major credit for how they’ve utilized it.

“I'm not sure anyone is gonna touch Kentucky's NIL payroll this season ... not even BYU,” Jeff Goodman wrote.

One of the first major additions Pope secured from the portal was five-star plus prospect Jayden Quaintance. Quaintance was originally committed to Kentucky, but after John Calipari’s departure, he chose not to return.

“We always liked Kentucky. He was committed there before John Calipari left for Arkansas, which is the reason we ended up at Arizona State. We were always hoping they’d come back around and recruit him,” his father told ESPN.

Last season, Quaintance suffered an ACL tear near the end of the year. Until recently, there was no confirmed recovery timeline for the talented center. That changed on Saturday, when Aaron Torres offered an update on Quaintance’s rehab and return.

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“My understanding is that barring something surprising, he’ll be cleared to return to the court mid-late August, and be ready for 5-on-5 in September,” Torres said.

This is a huge development for the Wildcats, as Quaintance is expected to play a major role this season before likely declaring for the NBA Draft. The goal is to have him fully available for Kentucky’s season opener.