Jayden Quaintance eyeing transfer after ACL surgery

Freshman star Jayden Quaintance is recovering from a torn ACL -- and that's not even the worst news for Arizona State fans.

The forward's father, Haminn Quaintance, told ESPN on Wednesday that the projected 2026 NBA lottery pick will explore entering the transfer portal.

"We're looking to put the right people around him," Haminn Quaintance said.

Jayden Quaintance had surgery on his right knee on March 19 at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix and is expected to be cleared for contact in September, putting him on track for the start of the 2025-26 season.

"He's already ahead of schedule, the doctor says," Quaintance's father said.

A consensus five-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, the 6-foot-9 Cleveland native chose the Sun Devils after originally committing to Kentucky.

He averaged 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots in 24 games (all starts) for Arizona State this season. He made the Big 12 All-Defensive and All-Freshman teams but the Sun Devils finished 13-20 (4-16).

"I'm planning on coming back better than last year," he told ESPN. "I'm already attacking my rehab aggressively."

Quaintance graduated from high school a year early and was only 16 when he arrived on the Tempe campus. He is not old enough to be eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft because he doesn't turn 19 until July 2026.

--Field Level Media