Why freshman Braydon Hawthorne could end up being another star at Kentucky

Braydon Hawthorne was a late addition to Kentucky’s incoming freshman class, but he has the potential to be a star down the road.

After seeing his stock rise as a high schooler during the spring, Hawthorne established himself as a top 40 prospect in the 2025 recruiting class. Rivals has him ranked No. 35 overall and the ninth-best small forward. At 6-foot-8 with plenty of length and raw talent, Hawthorne could have committed to other schools such as West Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Pittsburgh for more immediate playing time, but he elected to go with the school he grew up cheering for.

How much playing time will he actually earn as a true freshman in 2025-26? That’s still to be determined, and Mark Pope‘s Wildcats have a deep squad this time around. However, summer practice rumblings have sparked inspiring conversations about his early development. Regardless, something special could be brewing with Hawthorne — KSR’s Brandon Ramsey and Steven Peake explain why in the video below.

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