Quaintance, Cyril ask Kentucky for release

University of Kentucky center signee Jayden Quaintance, a 5-star recruit, has requested to be released from his national letter of intent from the Wildcats after former Coach John Calipari left to be the coach at Arkansas. ESPN’s Jeff Borzello reported Quaintance’s request to be released. Quaintance, 6-10 and 225 pounds, of Cleveland Word of God Christain Academy, committed to Kentucky over Missouri on Nov. 14 before inking with the Wildcats.

He also had scholarship offers from Ohio State, Florida, Alabama, Baylor, Kansas, Oregon, North Carolina State, Washington and others.

On3.com rates him as the No. 1 center and the No. 7 overall prospect in the nation. Schools usually grant releases to signees after a coaching change.

Kentucky signee Somto Cyril, a consensus 4-star recruit, also announced he’s reopening his recruitment on Wednesday.

Cyril, 6-10, 240 pounds, of Riverview (Fla.) Overtime Elite inked with Kentucky last November. On3.com reports he has received a release from his national letter of intent.

He’s the third of six members of Kentucky’s 2024 recruiting class to reopen his recruitment.

On3.com rates him the No. 8 center and No. 41 overall prospect in the nation for the 2024 class.

Four-star forward Karter Knox, 6-6 and 211, of Riverview (Fla.) Overtime Elite, was committed to the Wildcats, but the Tampa Bay Times reported his father said his son is reopening his recruitment.

Knox was also recruited by former Arkansas Coach Eric Musselman and his staff and had the Hogs in his top eight before picking Calipari and Kentucky.

Quaintance and Knox were both McDonald’s All-Americans, as was Wildcat signee and On3.com 4-star point guard Boogie Fland, 6-2 and 175 of Harlem (N.Y.) Archbishop Stepinac.

Consensus 4-star point guard signee Travis Perry, 6-2 and 170, of Eddyville (Ky.) Lyon County and 4-star forward commitment Billy Richmond, 6-6 and 200, of Memphis Camden round out the Kentucky recruiting class.