by LARRY VAUGHT
One Kentucky basketball player who is not being mentioned a lot when prospects for the 2026-27 season are discussed is redshirt freshman wing Braydon Hawthorne. However, Sporting News columnist Mike DeCourcy, who also does work for the Big Ten Network and FoxSports, says not to sleep on Hawthorne.
“Hawthorne was a top 35 prospect in his recruiting class. It is not unusual to not make an impact as a first-year freshman but for a year he competed against high quality players on a solid NCAA Tournament team. He practiced daily against one of the 30 best teams in the country,” DeCourcy said.
“I think he can be a difference maker. They have a lot of options. He is not a power player. He will be more of a wing. He is going to add some decent size and hopefully the ability to bother bigger players with matchup issues with the way he can score.”
Hawthorne’s father, Walt, did not attend practices last year and did not question what coach Mark Pope and his staff were doing with his son.
“I knew he was getting stronger and mentally preparing for what was coming. He knew next year would be his time to come out and show what he can do. He has got better and is ready to help the team this year,” Walt Hawthorne said. “I never went to practices but people at practice told me he did great and he is ready to be a major contributor.”
