By ADAM ZAGORIA
NEW YORK — After obtaining his release from Kentucky following the coaching change, five-star big man Jayden Quaintance is focusing on a handful of schools.
The 6-foot-9, 230 pound big man from Word of God Academy (NC) is concentrating on Louisville, Memphis and Arkansas, but hasn’t made any finalized list, he told ZAGSBLOG after the Jordan Brand Classic at Barclays Center.
“Those are the main ones right now,” he said. “I think my dad is talking to Arizona State. Other than that, that’s it.”
He added: “Just seeing what makes sense, I’m not really locked in anywhere. Just seeing what make sense.”
Quaintance visited Louisville last Thursday-Friday, and will visit Memphis this weekend, his father confirmed to ZAGSBLOG Monday night.
“It was fun, I liked the facilities, the people there were nice,” Jayden said of Louisville, now coached by new head coach Pat Kelsey.. “It was cool, it was good.”
Asked what the message from Kelsey and his staff was about his role, Quaintance said, “They kind of let me pick-and-pop, bring the ball up the court, just kind of expand my game, show my versatility more.”
As for Arkansas and new coach John Calipari, Quaintance said, “Yeah, I’m probably going to visit there. I think I have a Memphis visit also planned.”
He added of visits to Arkansas and Memphis: “I’m going to do both of those, but I’m not sure the times yet.”
Calipari on Monday landed a pledge from former Kentucky commit Karter Knox. He is attempting to bring several other former Kentucky commits to Arkansas and is involved for Quaintance, Boogie Fland, and Billy Richmond.
As what the message was from Memphis coach Penny Hardaway and his staff, Quaintance said, “My dad does most of the talking so I’m just going to see what they’re talking about.”
Arizona State is coached by Bobby Hurley, the former two-time NCAA champion point guard from Duke whose younger brother, Dan Hurley, has won back-to-back titles as the UConn coach.
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