Jayden Quaintance was one of the biggest “What Ifs” for the Kentucky Wildcats, as his one and only season with the team ended after only four games. After his transfer from Arizona State, many believed that he would turn things around for the Wildcats, but that did not happen. Now, during the NBA Draft Combine, he talked about the matter to reporters:
“It was the swelling — my knee swelled up a lot, even after the games when I was feeling good,” he said. “Going into the games, obviously the load placed on you is a problem. I only got one full practice in before the St. John’s game. I wasn’t able to do full practices the whole time. I wasn’t allowed to practice on my own at all, like, get extra shots or get extra workouts or get extra conditioning.”
The former five-star prospect noted that it was partly because of his knees, and it was also partly because how controlled the environment was in Kentucky. He added that everything they did over there “was kind of team-mandated” and did not allow him to do what he wanted.
As for the swelling, he received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection and a steroid shot to deal with it, as well as natural healing methods. He noted they tried a lot of shots and a lit of icing, but his knee often swelled up after games none the less and was frustrated by it. Jayden Quaintance ultimately did not return during the season and post-season, including during March Madness.
He finished his college career with 5.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game in those four games. He will now be entering the NBA and is participating in the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
Jayden Quaintance Impresses With His Measurements During the NBA Draft Combine
As for how well he did during the measurements portion of the NBA Draft Combine, many noted that he has grown at least one inch and his physical measurements were impressive for his position.
His measurements are 6’9″ barefoot and 253 pounds, with a 7’5.25″ wingspan and a 9’1″ standing reach. However, he still has to impress with the drills, though analysts have been noting that he would be a good athlete to build around.
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