By LARRY VAUGHT
Walter Hawthorne knew his oldest son, Braydon Hawthorne, was getting stronger and better during his redshirt season at Kentucky. He did not attend any practices but got reports from his son and others to let him know progress was being made.
He also knew his younger son, Zyon Hawthorne, was growing his game at Huntington (W.Va.) Prep after missing the 2025 AAU season to rest his ailing back.
Now the brothers are going to be playing together at Kentucky next season after Zyon, a 6-foot-2 guard, committed to Kentucky last week in part because of Walter Hawthorne’s vision.
“I had been in contact with the staff for a while and was sending film to them throughout the season,” said Walter Hawthorne. “I knew guys would be leaving (last year’s team) and let them know we would love for him to come to Kentucky and be the 13th to 15th guy and help the team and develop and become a better basketball player.”
The brothers are from Beckley, W.Va., but grew up UK fans. Braydon went to John Calipari basketball camps at Kentucky and playing for UK was a dream come true. It’s the same way with his younger brother who also went to the same camps at Kentucky his older brother did.
“He has always been a Kentucky fan. He is super excited, super pumped,” Walter Hawthorne said about his younger son. “The idea of getting this opportunity is really exciting for him. He has worked really hard and being in the Kentucky system will help him develop as a player and he can help the team. I am just glad him and coach (Mark) Pope talked and it all worked
out.”
Zyon Hawthorne had scholarship offers from Wichita State, LaSalle, Arkansas State and others but there was no doubt he would accept Pope’s offer to play at Kentucky. He averaged 11.2 points per game, seven assists and three rebounds during his senior season and was a 1,000-point scorer in high school. He played his first three high school seasons at Woodrow Wilson High School and was ranked third in school history in total assists when he left for Huntington Prep.
“It has always been a dream of mine to play at Kentucky, especially being alongside my brother. It still seems unreal,” Zyon Hawthorne, who has a 4.25 grade-point average, said. “It was an easy decision for me. Other schools talked to me but what me and coach Pope talked about just made sense. It’s my dream school to play with my brother. I need to put on weight and become a better player. I just want to be the best version of myself.”
Zyon has no trouble describing how he plays.
“I am someone who can get downhill, make plays, see the floor, plays well out of the pick and roll, can finish well and can shoot. I am just a true point guard,” Zyon said. “I am working on getting more physical. I have learned to initiate contact at Huntington Prep.
“I remember when Braydon came home last summer after being at UK for a few weeks and we played one-on-one. It was just different seeing how his game adjusted and how much stronger he got. I feel like I got better over the last year. I am staying in the gym. I can’t wait to go out there and work hard. I am not going to take a rep or a day for granted.”
Walter Hawthorne believes Zyon would have been more highly recruited if he had played AAU after his junior season.
“He woke up one day and his back was hurting, so we just sat him out the whole summer,” Walter Hawthorne said. “He was doing physical therapy in the summer but once he got to Huntington Prep he got it going again.
“There’s no question he will be competitive at UK. He is super skilled. He has to get stronger. Same thing with Braydon. I foresee him helping this team. He will put his head down and work. He has the same type mentality as Braydon. He is a very competitive person who will find ways to help the team.”
Zyon Hawthorne understands how passionate Kentucky fans can be and can over react both to wins and losses.
“I see it all but it really doesn’t bother me,” the UK signee said. “It all comes with the game today. I feel like the love from the fans far outweighs the hate. It’s easy for me to remember that there is 10 times more love than bad. Kentucky fans are just very passionate about their team and I like that.”
