Fans of the Kentucky Wildcats have not been happy with the offseason so far. Though coach Mark Pope has added some talented players, like Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins, the lack of a player with star power is worrisome for Big Blue Nation. A big name with dominant scoring experience would be terrific, but they might already have a star on the roster in Braydon Hawthorne.
Hawthorne was a late addition in the 2025 recruiting class after decommitting from West Virginia. He was a four-star recruit, and ranked in the top 40 overall by 247Sports. Several schools, including the Duke Blue Devils, tried to add him, but he headed to Lexington.
Pope elected to redshirt Hawthorne last season rather than use a year of his eligibility up buried behind the depth they appeared to have. However, fans heard Pope sing his praises at times, calling him incredibly talented, and touting his ability to help them down the road. Now "down the road" is here.
At 6'8" with a 7'3" wingspan, and 190 lbs, Hawthorne has terrific length, and plenty of athleticism to go with it. He has position versatility, and scouts think he has NBA ability. He can score inside and out, and some added muscle will make him more effective in the paint.
The question with Hawthorne is how quickly he hits his potential. His upside is limitless, but as a late bloomer, is he ready to hit it this year? Kentucky needs him to. Fans need him to. He certainly wants to, If he does, the Wildcats will have found their superstar, and he was on the roster all along.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky basketball may have star player in Braydon Hawthorne
