After smashing the 3-point record in 2024, Kentucky is now poised to rewrite history on defense. Is Jayden Quaintance the next shot-blocking legend?
From Sharpshooters to Shot-Blockers: A New Identity Emerges
Last season, Kentucky lit it up from deep, breaking the all-time school record with 341 made three-pointers — just edging out the 1992–93 squad’s 340. It was a season defined by spacing, ball movement, and perimeter magic.
But in 2025–26? Expect a whole new vibe.
This team is built to defend. Hard. With physical enforcers like Jayden Quaintance, Mouhamed Dioubate, Kam Williams, Malachi Moreno, and Andrija Jelavić, Kentucky might not shoot the lights out — but they might turn them off for opponents.
Jayden Quaintance: Next in Line for Shot-Blocking Glory?
Kentucky’s all-time shot-blocking greats include some massive names:
Anthony Davis (2011–12) – 186 blocks
Nerlens Noel (2012–13) & Willie Cauley-Stein (2013–14) – 106
Karl-Anthony Towns (2014–15) – 88
Andre Riddick (1993–94) – 83
To make the top 10, a player needs 73 blocks in a season.
Quaintance posted 63 blocks in just 24 games at Arizona State last year. Over a 32-game schedule, that pace puts him around 84 — enough to break into the top five and tie Riddick. Not bad for a player still recovering from an ACL tear.
He may not be Davis, but his size, bounce, and timing are elite. With a full season ahead, he could cement himself as a defensive force in Kentucky lore.
The Team Block Record? It’s Historic — But Not Impossible
The 2011–12 national championship team set the standard with a jaw-dropping 344 team blocks. Here’s how the rest of the leaderboard stacks up:
1. 2011–12 – 344
2. 2009–10 – 272
3. 2014–15 – 268
4. 2010–11 – 239
5. 2008–09 – 238
For comparison, last year’s squad tallied 207 blocks. With Pope’s new defensive roster, second or third place could be in sight — especially if they commit to dominating the paint on every possession.
Jaland Lowe: The Next Steals Leader?
Don’t forget the perimeter. Last season, Reed Sheppard came just five steals short of Rajon Rondo’s school record:
Rondo (2004–05) – 87
Sheppard (2023–24) – 82
Wayne Turner (1996–97) – 79
Rodrick Rhodes (1993–94) – 76
Cliff Hawkins (2003–04) – 74
Now, Jaland Lowe enters the scene. A transfer from Pitt, Lowe notched 55 steals while playing major minutes. With Kentucky’s depth, he may not play 35 minutes a game again — but his tenacity could lead to a top-five finish if Pope unleashes a pressure defense.
Cracking Rondo’s 87 might be a reach, but breaking into the top five? Very possible.
Final Take: One Record’s Going Down — Maybe More
If there’s one Kentucky record poised to fall this season, Jayden Quaintance breaking into the top 10 (or top 5) in blocks is the best bet. He’s got the physical tools, the minutes, and the mindset to do it.
The team blocks record is a stretch — unless things get special. And Lowe? He’s the dark horse to join Kentucky’s all-time steal leaders if he brings the energy Pope demands.
One thing is certain: This Kentucky team will be feared — not just for what they score, but for what they take away.
