The excitement surrounding Kentucky basketball continues to grow, and this time, the praise is coming from someone who has seen the Wildcats up close.
Former Kentucky forward Kahlil Whitney recently returned to Lexington with La Familia for The Basketball Tournament (TBT), giving him the opportunity to scrimmage against Mark Pope’s current roster before the alumni team began its tournament run. After facing the Wildcats firsthand, Whitney walked away impressed by the team’s overall talent—but one player stood out above the rest.
That player was freshman wing Braydon Hawthorne.
Speaking during an appearance on KSR Radio, Whitney shared his thoughts on Kentucky’s new-look roster after competing against them in practice. While he complimented the Wildcats as a whole, he made it clear that Hawthorne’s potential caught his attention in a big way.
“They’re good, they’re good,” Whitney said. “They’ve got a great group of guards, length is definitely their calling card.”
Whitney also praised several individual players. He noted that Malachi Moreno has taken a noticeable step forward in his development and described point guard Zoom Diallo as a powerful, speedy guard capable of getting downhill and creating plays for others.
But when the conversation turned to Hawthorne, Whitney’s comments suggested the freshman could become one of the biggest surprises on Kentucky’s roster.
“And the kid Braydon Hawthorne, I like him,” Whitney said. “Once he puts on weight, I feel like he can definitely be the X-factor for this team, for sure.”
That endorsement is significant considering Whitney had the chance to compete directly against the freshman during the scrimmage. Rather than basing his opinion on highlights or workouts, he evaluated Hawthorne while sharing the court with him against experienced former Wildcats.
The praise also lines up with the excitement surrounding Hawthorne since arriving on campus. Known for his length, athleticism and versatility, the freshman has all the physical tools to develop into an impact player under Mark Pope’s system.
Whitney’s evaluation wasn’t limited to individual players. He also came away impressed with the team’s identity, particularly on the defensive end of the floor.
According to the former Wildcat, Pope had Kentucky applying relentless pressure throughout the scrimmage, making life difficult for La Familia from start to finish. With the alumni team limited to only five or six available players, keeping up with Kentucky’s pace and intensity became a major challenge.
“Yeah, he did,” Whitney said when asked if Pope had the Wildcats pressing. “It’s crazy, like, we only had five or six players. So it was like, timeout, man!”
The Wildcats eventually earned a convincing double-digit victory in the condensed scrimmage, another encouraging sign that Pope’s roster is buying into his defensive philosophy while building chemistry ahead of the 2026–27 season.
As preseason expectations continue to rise, Kentucky fans have already heard glowing reports from coaches and media members during summer workouts. Now, those positive reviews are being reinforced by a former Wildcat who experienced the team’s talent firsthand.
If Whitney’s assessment proves accurate, Braydon Hawthorne may soon become one of the breakout names in college basketball—and the Wildcat everyone will be talking about once the season tips off.
