Nothing has made BBN quite as angry as the Shaedon Sharpe situation. He came to Kentucky, sat on the bench, and never played a game. He then went pro. So, when Jayden Quaintance tore his knee up last season but secured a bag of NIL money to come to Kentucky, a lot of fans had flashbacks.
Quaintance, though, would make his debut in December against St. John's, early, according to his dad, who said they fought to come back then. He played in 4 games and then had knee swelling and was pulled off the floor by Kentucky staff.
Jayden's dad got into it on X with Kentucky fans because Quaintance has not played since early January. Haminn would say his son is doing nothing but working out, and he would surprise NBA analysts. You see, Jayden was a lottery pick coming into this season, and after one of the best freshman classes in recent memory, Jayden is slipping down the draft boards.
UPDATED MOCK DRAFT:
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 5, 2026
After talking to nearly a dozen NBA execs, here’s a mock first-round board.
Many NBA execs are torn right now on the No. 1 pick. pic.twitter.com/kGW3fVwhIU
From not practicing to undergoing strength training again
Back on February 19th, Mark Pope had said Quaintance is no longer practicing and that UK would not play him until he is "100 percent." That is a reasonable stance. To be honest, I really think Jayden came back too early with the goal of impressing NBA scouts. When someone as big as JQ, 6'10 and 225 pounds, tears an ACL, has meniscus damage, and a fracture all at the same time, that is a huge deal.
He came back in roughly 10 months from the injury, which is on the quick side for just an ACL injury. So, of course, there would be swelling. But now that the draft stock is slipping, JQ is doing strength testing to see if he can play. Mark Pope provided an update on Quaintance yesterday during his pre-Florida presser.
"JQ is also making some progress. Feel like we've got the swelling a little bit under control and he actually did strength testing today. He's got a much more intensive ramp up before he could step on the court."
I'm not saying that the two are related, but the timing is obviously a little suspicious. For me, I really believe Quaintance wanted to impress and came back too early. I don't know that there is a way for him to get back out on the court this year, but it would be good if he could.