Kentucky is actively pursuing Jayden Quaintance.

Quaintance is seen as one of the most intriguing and risky prospects in this year’s transfer portal. While there’s a high potential for him to make significant improvements in his second year and possibly become an All-American candidate, his recovery from the ACL injury presents a significant unknown. ACL injuries are notoriously challenging to recover from, and it’s unclear whether Quaintance will return to his previous form or face setbacks in his recovery.

Another factor that could complicate matters is Quaintance’s likely NIL demands, which are expected to exceed $2 million. This could present a challenge for Kentucky, especially after they missed out on San Diego State transfer Magoon Gwath, who also had injury concerns. Kentucky reportedly hesitated to offer Gwath his full NIL package upfront, preferring to include performance-based incentives depending on his health. It’s possible they could take a similar approach with Quaintance, but that might add complexity to negotiations.

At the moment, it seems that Quaintance won’t rush his decision, giving Kentucky time to consider other more reliable big men for next season. If those options fall through, they may turn their full attention to Quaintance.