Kentucky Lands High-Flying Wing Braydon Hawthorne: Mark Pope Strikes Again
Mark Pope’s offseason momentum just keeps rolling.
On Tuesday night, Kentucky basketball added yet another key piece to its ever-evolving 2025-26 roster as four-star small forward Braydon Hawthorne announced his commitment to the Wildcats. The 6-foot-8 wing, known for his remarkable 7-foot-3 wingspan and perimeter shooting, revealed his decision live on 247Sports’ YouTube channel choosing Kentucky over Duke, Pitt, Virginia Tech, and his former commitment, West Virginia.
Hawthorne becomes the 14th addition to Pope’s roster, a mix of elite freshmen, veteran transfers, and NBA hopefuls like Otega Oweh, who is still weighing his draft options. The commitment continues Pope’s strategic build, one that now includes fellow four-star recruits Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno.
For Kentucky fans, this is another reason to believe in the vision Pope is selling: length, shooting, and coachability.
“His ability to shoot the ball [is his greatest strength],” Hawthorne’s high school coach, Arkell Bruce, told KSR+ last month. “That, and he’s coachable. He accepts coaching. He’s a yes-sir, no-sir type. You can coach him hard.”
A Rising Star with Room to Grow
Hawthorne’s path to Lexington wasn’t without its twists. Originally committed to West Virginia in October 2024, he re-opened his recruitment following a coaching change in March 2025. That decision gave Pope and his staff a window, and they didn’t miss.
After visiting all five of his finalists, Hawthorne took an official visit to UK in mid-April and the visit clearly left an impression.
“Braydon Hawthorne is a unique player,” On3 national analyst Jamie Shaw said. “A definite late-bloomer… but his best basketball is still clearly in front of him. He has true wing skills… he can self-create in the half-court. Athletically, he still needs to add strength, but what he does have is length and instincts.”
Hawthorne made a major leap during his senior season at Huntington Prep (WV), climbing from a borderline top-100 recruit to one of the more intriguing wings in the class. His combination of size, skill, and shooting potential make him a valuable developmental piece, and perhaps even a rotation player sooner than expected.
What This Means for Kentucky
With roster construction becoming a year-round game, Mark Pope has shown he can win in the trenches whether it’s on the recruiting trail or in the portal. And while Hawthorne may not arrive as a projected starter, he fits Pope’s blueprint: versatile, high-upside wings with length, range, and character.
Kentucky’s 2025-26 roster is taking shape with a blend of proven production and rising talent. The addition of Hawthorne only adds another dimension to what Pope hopes will be a championship-caliber group.
Welcome to the Big Blue Nation, Braydon Hawthorne. The future is bright and now it’s got a 7-foot-3 wingspan.
Leave a Reply