Jayden Quaintance’s versatility popping early for Arizona State basketball

TEMPE — Arizona State basketball coach Bobby Hurley has been impressed by heralded freshman Jayden Quaintance, calling the 17-year-old’s ceiling “scary” on Friday.

“He’s more like a point guard than he is a center. He’s 6-foot-9, he’s got really good footwork, he can dribble the ball, gets low. He can pass the ball. He’s one of our best passers for a big guy,” Hurley said. “He’s very advanced for someone that just turned 17 in July.”

Bobby Hurley spoke Friday on highly-touted freshmen Jayden Quaintance and Joson Sanon.

Quaintance’s ceiling is “scary” and Sanon has had a “smooth” adjustment. pic.twitter.com/0aZKGcx11O

— State of the Sun Devils (@AZSportsDevils) September 27, 2024

The freshman played in a lineup with 7-foot Shawn Phillips Jr. during the open portion of practice on Friday and throughout the first week of practice.

While he expects a good amount of tinkering with such a new group, Hurley said he likes that combination because of Quaintance’s passing and Phillips’ ability to play above the rim.

“JQ’s passing ability, his high-low kicks to Shawn and Shawn when he gets that close to the basket, he knows how to finish,” Hurley said. “And then also their rebounding prowess, the two of them on the offensive glass especially is really good with their physicality, with their athletic ability.”

ASU freshman Jayden Quaintance with the spin and finish out of the double-big lineup. pic.twitter.com/NszeqpTfWn

— State of the Sun Devils (@AZSportsDevils) September 27, 2024

“It’s scary what he can be as he keeps developing as a player,” Hurley added.

Adam Miller, a vocal leader in practice on Friday and one of two returners from last season’s ASU rotation along with Phillips, called Quaintance a “silent killer.”

“He’s the type of guy who draws a lot of contact and gets fouls every time and still finishes. It’s one of the weirdest things I’ve ever seen,” Miller said. “One of the strongest 17-year-olds I swear I’ve ever seen in my life. … Who’s ever guarding him is going to have a tough night.”

As for the other side of the floor, Quaintance’s athleticism and length give him the ability to guard all five positions.

“Whoever they were with (before ASU) prepared them well,” Miller said of all three freshmen, Joson Sanon and Amier Ali included. “These guys come in, they get extra work in, they don’t complain, they be where they need to be and they come out and compete.

“We got a good group of young guys, probably the best group of young guys I’ve ever played with.”