Watching Braydon Hawthorne on the Rupp Arena court before a Kentucky game is like seeing basketball potential in its purest form. The 19-year-old freshman hasn’t made his official debut for the Wildcats yet, but fans who arrive early get a glimpse of what could be a star in the making.
Hours before tipoff, Hawthorne is typically the first player on the floor, casually shooting while a team manager rebounds for him. Later, after changing into game gear, he runs agility and ball-handling drills with a UK graduate assistant before launching into a rigorous shooting routine—catch-and-shoot, off-the-dribble, and deep-range attempts. Most of the shots find the hoop.
“He’s super advanced,” said senior Otega Oweh. “Once he really figures out his game—and himself—that’s when he’s going to take a huge jump.”
Hawthorne’s path to Kentucky has been unique. Originally committed to West Virginia, a coaching change there reopened his recruitment. Ranked No. 33 in the 2025 class, he arrived at UK on a roster already loaded with talent. Redshirting this season has been considered, and eight games into the 2025-26 campaign, that plan is still under review.
“Once you burn a redshirt in basketball, you can’t get it back,” UK coach Mark Pope said. “So we want to make sure we’re making the right decision.”
Unlike football, NCAA basketball rules don’t allow players to appear in multiple games without losing a year of eligibility. UK has already committed to redshirting center Reece Potter, but Hawthorne’s future is still being evaluated. Pope sees the value of patience.
“He is a really, really terrific talent,” Pope said. “He also needs to grow. The advantage of redshirting is that he can focus solely on development without the distractions of games twice a week.”
Hawthorne’s learning curve is steep. At 6-foot-8 and 170 pounds, he is lean, and practice against bigger, stronger players is helping him adjust. “Us guarding him every day is going to make him better,” Oweh said.
Even without game minutes, Hawthorne has already made an impact. Sophomore guard Collin Chandler praised his energy and leadership on the scout team, where he recently mirrored North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson, helping UK limit the Tar Heels’ freshman to 5-of-19 shooting in their 67-64 loss.
Pope has even compared Hawthorne to former UK star Tayshaun Prince, highlighting his exceptional potential. For now, Hawthorne is focusing on learning, improving, and supporting his teammates.
“Braydon is a perfect example of someone thinking outside of themselves,” Chandler said. “Even if he’s not playing, he has a lot of power over the team’s energy and chemistry.”
Kentucky’s goal is clear: when Hawthorne finally debuts, he will be ready to make an immediate impact. Until then, fans can watch him quietly refine his craft, a glimpse of the bright future ahead for the Wildcats.
