On a Kentucky men’s basketball team with several intriguing long-term prospects, including a potential top-five NBA Draft selection in Jayden Quaintance, incoming freshman Braydon Hawthorne could be the most captivating of them all.
Hawthorne entered college as a top 35 high school recruit, but his ascent to prominence was late for the West Virginia native. An outstanding 2024-25 season at Huntington Prep provided him with an expanded opportunity to showcase his abilities. He previously held a position outside the national top 100 before his senior year, then rapidly ascended the individual rankings. In On3’s final 2025 player rankings, Hawthorne is ranked one spot higher at 35th compared to fellow freshman Jasper Johnson at 36th, although Johnson faces significantly greater immediate expectations.
That provides Hawthorne with some opportunity to develop at Kentucky. His ranking represents what he has the potential to become, not explicitly how skilled he is at this moment in his growth. A high comparison to Wildcat icon Tayshaun Prince is being made. The official team website of UK lists Hawthorne as being 6-foot-8, yet he weighs just 175 pounds. For reference, 6-foot-3 point guard Jaland Lowe weighs in at 188 pounds. Gaining mass will be essential for Hawthorne’s lengthy and prosperous career. Prince concluded his playing career at approximately 210 pounds.
“The main difference is in physicality and subtle aspects like angles,” Hawthorne informed reporters last Thursday regarding the contrast between high school and college. “They (his Kentucky teammates) understand how to effectively utilize their bodies.”
Hawthorne possesses great talent, but he’s extremely slender. If he were thrown into a matchup with a Southeastern Conference rival tomorrow, he would likely be pushed off the court and directly to the bench. He is aware of that, however. That’s the reason he’s doing additional training beyond practice with his new teammates this summer to prepare his body and mind for those demanding contests.
I appreciate that physicality. “I remain after (practice) to play one-on-one with them to acclimate,” Hawthorne mentioned, noting that he enjoys competing against seasoned players like Lowe, Mo Dioubate, and Otega Oweh.
It’s been just over a month of summer training, but Hawthorne states he’s adjusting at a solid rate. Initially, he had difficulties with perimeter shooting (the high school three-point line is nearer than in college) and his legal contests on defense (a focus this offseason from head coach Mark Pope).
However, moving ahead to the midpoint of those practices, he has significantly enhanced his shooting percentages while also acquiring skills to battle more efficiently and effectively on rebounds and defense. It’s a journey, yet Hawthorne demonstrates the determination to persevere.
“You truly need to be attentive now,” he remarked. “Every moment counts.”
