Bobby Hurley: Jayden Quaintance’s motor is ‘as good as any I’ve ever coached’

Arizona State men’s basketball coach Bobby Hurley raved about freshman forward Jayden Quaintance at Big 12 Media Day on Wednesday, specifically his high-level motor.

Quaintance is a 17-year-old, five-star recruit who reclassified to join the Sun Devils early. Hurley has been complimentary of his versatility and skill as a 6-foot-9 big man this preseason, but he compared the newcomer’s relentlessness to a young Bobby Hurley.

“He’s got a motor that is as good as any I’ve ever coached,” Hurley told reporters. “I always prided myself when I played on being able to sustain minutes and be a guy who could play 35-40 minutes without getting tired. Jayden is far superior than I ever was in that regard or anybody I’ve coached. He just never stops … goes after the basketball, plays with tremendous energy and passion.

“Very fortunate to have him in the program because he could easily be in a high school classroom somewhere right now.”

The Sun Devils revamped their roster with highly rated freshmen and transfers. Quaintance headlines the freshman class that also includes four-star guard Joson Sanon and four-star forward Amier Ali.

Hurley said he believes the program upgraded its talent level “significantly” after a disappointing final season in the Pac-12, rebuilding the frontcourt and adding as much depth as he has seen in the backcourt.

Arizona State basketball wants to forge own identity

Joining a basketball powerhouse conference, Hurley said he wants his team to play a unique style rather than attempt to match the programs they will face.

“I’m not sure that I can in a few months become a better rebounding team than Houston,” Hurley said. “I’m just going to try to be good at what we’re capable of being good at. … It’s probably the deepest perimeter that I’ve had since I’ve been at Arizona State. I’ve had some really good core perimeter teams here, but I think the depth of players that I can put on the floor, I have a pretty strong hand there.

“It’s a good mixture of experienced guys and incoming freshmen so I really like what he have right now.”

ASU starts playing games on Sunday with a charity exhibition at Duke. The regular season begins on Nov. 5 against Idaho State.

The Sun Devils only play four non-conference home games at Desert Financial Arena, which Hurley said should battle test his players before facing a new challenge of longer road trips to new conference opponents.

“Excited to experience all that, new places, places I haven’t been, I haven’t coached at, different areas of the country,” Hurley said. “I like what I’m seeing at practice … excited to see where we stand.”

Related

2024-25 Arizona State basketball schedule: Arizona, Kansas featured on TVJayden Quaintance's versatility popping early for Arizona State basketballASU basketball's Jayden Quaintance and Joson Sanon named impact freshmenDiamondbacks young pitchers to be put to test after Padres even seriesGrading the Diamondbacks’ relatively quiet trade deadlineWhat does Carson Beck need to show in his Hall of Fame game start?