Jayden Quaintance on Watch List for Kareem Abudul-Jabbar Honor

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts –Kentucky sophomore forward Jayden Quaintance was named to preseason watch list for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday.

The list features 20 players as candidates to watch for the prestigious Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award, which has recognized the top center in college basketball since its inception in 2015. National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe was the recipient of the honor in 2022. Quaintance joins Arkansas’ Malique Ewin, Florida’s Alex Condon and Tennessee’s Felix Okpara as Southeastern Conference representatives on the list.

Quaintance comes to the Cats after spending his freshman season with Arizona State. He started all 24 games in which he played, averaging 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 1.5 assists per game. He also connected on 52.5% of his field goals. The Cleveland, Ohio native was a Big 12 All-Freshman Team and a Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection. He set the Arizona State freshman record for total blocked shots (63) and rebounds per game (7.9). Quaintance was the only player in the country to reach a combined 90 steals and blocks in fewer than 25 games a year ago. He tallied 11 double-figure scoring games and charted six double-doubles.

Quaintance is the third Wildcat to earn selection to one of the watch lists for the Naismith Hall of Fame’s positional awards. Jaland Lowe was one of 20 candidates for the Bob Cousy Award, while Otega Oweh was selected to the Jerry West preseason watch list.

Fans are encouraged to participate in voting in each of the three rounds for the Naismith awards starting on Oct. 31. In late January, all lists will be narrowed down to 10 players before that group is cut to five in February. Winners will be announced at a to be determined date.

UK opens the regular season inside Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center at 7 p.m. on Nov. 4 against Nicholls. The game will air live on SEC Network+.

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