Braydon Hawthorne is still one of the biggest unknowns on Kentucky’s roster, but that’s also exactly why so many eyes are on him heading into this season.
The Wildcats brought Hawthorne in last year with a plan: redshirt him, let him develop, and keep building toward the kind of player the staff believes he can become. Even when Kam Williams got hurt and some in Big Blue Nation wanted Hawthorne on the floor, Mark Pope held to that plan and kept him out.
Now the expectation has shifted. Hawthorne is set to have a role off the bench this season, and Kentucky fans are eager to finally see the 6’8 wing in game action.
There’s a real belief around him because the ceiling is so high. He has the look of a player who could grow into an elite-level talent, even an NBA superstar, but he’s also still very much in the early stages of that climb.
That’s part of what made last season’s redshirt decision so interesting. Some wanted him to get those SEC reps right away, especially to work through the natural growing pains that come with playing in this league. He’ll still have to go through that this season, but the hope is that the experience helps speed up his development rather than slow it down.
There hasn’t been a ton of buzz about Hawthorne from summer practice, at least not as much as some would like to hear. Still, the feeling is that he just needs time on the floor. He’s improving, and he should contribute, but he hasn’t fully unlocked what he can be yet.
Pope has already made it clear what he thinks happens when it all clicks for Hawthorne: it gets scary. That’s the word that keeps coming back, and it fits. Hawthorne is a late bloomer, but the upside is obvious enough that Kentucky is willing to wait for it to show up.
For now, the hope is simple. As the season gets closer, Kentucky wants to start hearing that Hawthorne is playing well and moving toward that next level. The confidence has to stay high, the work has to keep coming, and if it all comes together, he could become a major problem for the rest of the SEC.
That’s the bet with this Kentucky team overall, too. Upside is the theme, and Hawthorne is right in the middle of it. If he takes that step, the Wildcats could be very dangerous this season.
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Will Steins First Kentucky Season Just Got Even More Brutal
Will Steins first season in Lexington is already shaping up to be a grind, and the early read on Kentuckys 2026 slate only sharpens that reality. ESPN FPI has the Wildcats at No. 4 in the country for schedule difficulty, a brutal backdrop for a coach trying to establish a new identity while navigating a league schedule loaded with Alabama, Texas A&M, South Carolina and a long list of other familiar SEC headaches.
The challenge is obvious, but so is the reason for some optimism around the program. Stein has already started to build momentum on the recruiting trail, including a promising 2027 class, and his track record at Oregon gives Kentucky reason to believe the long-term picture can improve even if the short-term road is steep. The question now is how much patience the Wildcats will need if the results in year one get tested by one of the toughest slates in the sport. [Read more 🡒]
Mark Pope Just Added Fuel To Kentuckys Biggest Rotation Debate
Trent Noahs sophomore season at Kentucky never quite got off the ground the way some around the program expected, with his shooting wavering even as his rebounding and defensive effort continued to stand out. John Calipari had already pointed to Noahs impact on that end of the floor during preseason camp, and the conversation around him has only grown louder as fans debate how much run he should get this season, especially with the Wildcats looking for reliable help at the two spot.
Mark Popes latest comments only sharpened the discussion. He has been openly impressed with Noah through the first month of camp and sees a player whose value goes well beyond the box score, which is exactly why the rotation question has become so interesting. The remaining issue is whether Noah can make enough progress as a shooter and defender to turn all that praise into a real, every-night role. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Just Entered A Massive Battle For A Surging Elite Guard
Kentucky has jumped into the mix for one of the fastest-rising guards in the 2027 class, extending a scholarship offer to NaVarro Bowman Jr. after his recent surge on the national stage. The point guard helped lead the USA U17 National team to a gold medal, and his profile has only grown as major programs across the country continue to circle.
Bowmans recruitment is still in its early stages, but the list of suitors is already starting to look like a heavyweight fight. He is lining up official visits to Arizona and Texas, with North Carolina and Illinois also in the mix, giving Kentucky an immediate chance to make up ground in a race that figures to stay crowded for a while. [Read more 🡒]