Hawthorne ??

20MRoster

All-Conference
Nov 16, 2018
1,286
2,541
108
As a top 40 4-star recruit (with good measurables), I would say "yes" -- very good chance he is the most promising player going into the season, given the "success" we are having in the portal.

If we get Stokes (and nobody else), may be a chance to finally have a UK-level year if Hawthorne emerges.

I don't trust Poop to make it all work, but I am objective and fair, so if he does have a great season, and uses the Stokes momentum to shore up future recruiting, I will change my outlook on him and support him.
 

anot

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2026
989
1,651
93
As a top 40 4-star recruit (with good measurables), I would say "yes" -- very good chance he is the most promising player going into the season, given the "success" we are having in the portal.

If we get Stokes (and nobody else), may be a chance to finally have a UK-level year if Hawthorne emerges.

I don't trust Poop to make it all work, but I am objective and fair, so if he does have a great season, and uses the Stokes momentum to shore up future recruiting, I will change my outlook on him and support him.
Poop wasn't funny until I was reading and said it so casual 😂
 
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megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
15,988
16,350
113
I do not recall ever reading or hearing anything about how Hawthorne, or Potter also, were doing in practices. Does anyone having insight into where both of them are in their ability and development ??
 
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Reggie Noble

Junior
Jul 5, 2025
195
269
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I do not recall ever reading or hearing anything about how Hawthorne, or Potter also, were doing in practices. Does anyone having insight into where both of them are in their ability and development ??
Allen Cutler has said word is that Hawthorne is killing it in practice and has put weight on, although he's still skinny.
 

RedwoodHigh

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2025
823
1,186
93
I don't believe he will have any significant impact, I just don't see it, hope to be wrong, there was a reason he was a redshirt.
He was the 13th player signed & the Redshirt was planned from the moment he signed.
Potter & Hawthorne were the first signees of the 2026 class.
 
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Nov 19, 2025
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I've posted this before. If the turns out as talented as Cutler described then you would have to question why he wasn't playing this past season with a team in desperate need of offense in the front court. My guess is he is not anything special yet.
 
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W1LDCAT22

All-Conference
Jan 10, 2013
1,151
1,401
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Could he be an unknown gem that will bedazzle us next season ??
I've always liked Hawthorne's game and believe he has a lot of potential. Now whether he has been coached-up his redshirt year is another story. Hopefully he can develop into a nice piece off the bench next season and a possible starting option the year after.
 

THCPRO

Redshirt
Nov 30, 2025
62
45
18
Yes he was mentioned a couple of times preseason by two different players that were impressed by his play in practice.
Did the players say they were impressed after a question about Hawthorne's progress and give a typical "coach speak" answer or was it a genuine behind the scenes "insight"? I remember your boy Aberdeen talking about how good JJ was going to play this year. Is what you mentioned more insightful or about the same, Anon?
 
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BlueSince92

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
10,758
3,388
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Absolutely.

He'll be world-shattering.

At BBM last year he couldn't shoot it as well as either Noah or Jelavic and couldn't jump nearly as high as Chandler and wasn't worth bringing out of redshirt this season even though we were crap and at one point had three potential starters out long term. But he'll make Stokes look like an eighth-grade girl this year.
 
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philstat

Heisman
Jan 3, 2004
10,895
10,346
56
Did the players say they were impressed after a question about Hawthorne's progress and give a typical "coach speak" answer or was it a genuine behind the scenes "insight"? I remember your boy Aberdeen talking about how good JJ was going to play this year. Is what you mentioned more insightful or about the same, Anon?
At the first 10 games or so of the season, JJ looked very legit, and I believe he will turn out to be a great player, if he went and played for Pitino for example he’d substantially improve damn near immediately!
 
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Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
42,043
64,034
113
Did the players say they were impressed after a question about Hawthorne's progress and give a typical "coach speak" answer or was it a genuine behind the scenes "insight"? I remember your boy Aberdeen talking about how good JJ was going to play this year. Is what you mentioned more insightful or about the same, Anon?

there was one interview where it was said Hawthorne will play in the NBA.
 

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
42,043
64,034
113
At the first 10 games or so of the season, JJ looked very legit, and I believe he will turn out to be a great player, if he went and played for Pitino for example he’d substantially improve damn near immediately!
He would have sat the bench this past year for Rick. In fact, Rick may have RSed him.
 
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philstat

Heisman
Jan 3, 2004
10,895
10,346
56
He would have sat the bench this past year for Rick. In fact, Rick may have RSed him.
Rick would have done one thing that JJ needed the most, he would have had his *** in game shape, the strength and conditioning under Pope has been absolutely deplorable. RP ensures his guys are in the gym and working on their bodies, he's a workout fanactic himself and that carries over to his players, that was his approach at UK as well. I saw a lot of kids on UK's roster this year, they looked soft and not physically ready for the rigors of the SEC and this also explains why we had so many players sitting out on any given game. It's something that the staff needs to take a hard look at, for example Hawthorne looks rail thin and has next to no muscularity and going against seasonsed SFs in the SEC, he will get manhandled, simply put.