Freshman star-big man Jayden Quaintance is exploring the transfer portal, according to ESPN. The former five-star recruit had stints of injuries late in the year, but still put up a productive 9.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He succeeded the most on the defensive end, averaging nearly 4 stocks per game, playing a part in him being named to the Big 12 All-Defensive team and All-Freshman team.
The 17-year-old last played on Feb. 23, when he suffered a knee injury that would keep him out the remainder of the season. This was the only game the Sun Devils won in their final 12 games of the season. The knee issues eventually led to Quaintance having surgery to repair a torn ACL, an injury that will likely keep him out of action until September, his dad, Haminn Quaintance, told ESPN.
The two big pieces of ASU's freshman class are now potentially gone. Freshman guard Joson Sanon has already committed to play for Rick Pitino at St. Johns and junior center Shawn Phillips Jr. plans to enter the portal as of April 2, leaving the frontcourt a ghost town. Now, Quaintance will explore entering the portal as one of the most highly coveted players on the market.
The roster turnover issues only grow. With only a few rotational pieces returning, for now, Head Coach Bobby Hurley will have to play the difficult game of building almost an entire roster through the transfer portal.
This story is developing and may be updated.
Edited by Henry Smardo, Sophia Braccio, Kat Michalak and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at jkmccar2@asu.edu and follow @jackmccarthyasu on X.
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Jack is a junior studying sports journalism with a minor in business. This is his first semester with The State Press. He has also worked at his high school paper.
