Kentucky Basketball Secures Commitment from Future NBA Top-5 Pick with $2M NIL Deal
Hunter Cookston
The Kentucky Wildcats have been aggressively pursuing transfers since their Sweet Sixteen loss to Tennessee. Head coach Mark Pope is determined to rebuild the roster after several key departures.
On Monday, Kentucky made a major addition by landing five-star recruit Jayden Quaintance, who had previously decommitted when John Calipari left for Arkansas. This time, Quaintance is expected to officially sign with the Wildcats.
According to ESPN, Quaintance’s father revealed that the family always favored Kentucky and welcomed the renewed interest from Pope’s staff. However, securing Quaintance comes at a high cost—his NIL deal is reportedly worth over $2 million, which could strain Kentucky’s budget after missing out on other targets.
Despite concerns over his recent ACL injury, Quaintance fills a critical need for Kentucky in the frontcourt, giving Pope a foundational piece for next season.
