Arizona State star Jayden Quaintance, a potential top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, entered the transfer portal on Wednesday, as confirmed by Eric Bossi of 247Sports. Quaintance had surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee on March 19, 2025, and is expected to be cleared for contact in September.

With Quaintance’s entry into the transfer portal, he marks a significant prospect in the modern era of the NBA Draft. Notably, he won’t turn 18 until July, which disqualifies him from the 2025 NBA Draft due to rules that require players to be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft, allowing him to potentially play two seasons in college.

Since 2021, the highest player drafted who had previously entered the transfer portal was Davion Mitchell, who transferred from Auburn to Baylor, eventually being selected as the 9th overall pick by the Sacramento Kings.

Interestingly, Quaintance’s draft position is remarkable as he would likely be a top-10 selection in 2025 if eligible. Last season, he averaged 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks while being the youngest player in Division I basketball.

Originally, Quaintance was set to play for Kentucky under John Calipari but changed his commitment following Calipari’s move to Arkansas. Listed as the No. 9 player in the 2024 recruiting cycle by 247Sports, he subsequently committed to Arizona State, making him the highest-rated recruit in the program’s history.

Reclassifying, a common trend in high school basketball, has been seen with players like Cooper Flagg, projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, who moved up a class and played his freshman season at 17 years old.

In conclusion, RJ Luis Jr. of St. John’s might be noted as the most accomplished player entering the transfer portal post-achievement of Big East Player of the Year, but Quaintance’s case epitomizes a new trend in college basketball, showcasing unprecedented draft potential for a transfer portal entrant.