Oct 24, 2025; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Braydon Hawthorne (22) gestures in celebration from the bench during the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
After spending the 2025–26 season developing behind the scenes, Braydon Hawthorne plans to remain in Lexington. According to the Lexington-Herald Leader in a sit-down interview last week, he “for sure” intends to return to Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball for the 2026–27 season, securing his second year in the program under head coach Mark Pope.
(Photo: Jordan Prather, USA Today Sports)
The 6-foot-8 wing has not appeared in a game during the 2025–26 campaign, redshirting the season to preserve his four years of eligibility. There were moments throughout the regular season when using his redshirt was considered, as Kentucky’s depth has taken hits due to numerous to injuries. Instead, this past season became a development period, particularly physically. Hawthorne said he has gone from weighing around 173 pounds last summer to roughly 192 pounds thanks to consistent work in the weight room and a strict diet.
When Hawthorne first arrived on campus last summer, Pope gave high praise to the former four-star and No. 33 recruit, offering a notable comparison, saying his build and skillset reminded him of former Wildcat standout Tayshaun Prince. The two share similar length: Hawthorne stands 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan — and like Prince early in his Kentucky career, the focus has been on adding strength while continuing to develop his versatile wing game that made him suck a significant stock riser in the Class of ’25. After spending a season developing within the program, he’ll look to officially begin his on-court career at Kentucky in the fall of 2026.
Discover more from Bleed Blue Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
