I’m not sold on Hawthorne, there’s a lot of people gushing over him but looking at the +|-, he’s the worse on the team and it wasn’t just this game, it’s been in all 3 exhibitions. Not sure the chemistry works when he’s out there.
Hawthorne
- Thread starter Lameguy
- Start date
Hes better than kam and everyone clamors for him lol
He's playing out of position, should be a 4.
He's still not there but his ceiling is very high. He had 4 steals and 3 blocks in not that many minutes but he also got lost a few times. He also needs to use his height and just rise and shoot from 10 feet when he beats his man. I do think the Hawthorne we'll see at the end of the year will be much better than the one we've seen so far.
He did some special things tonight. When Dior Johnson was manhandling our guards, they moved Hawthorne on him defensively and it made a difference. He has now played THREE college basketball games. it’s amazing when you think he and Mason were belittled by fans but if those guys were 5 stars coming into their first three exhibitions, fans would be happy seeing that this looks more like their floor with flashes that demonstrate what they can be by January. He did some elite things tonight. I am excited about his future.
Me 2. 3 nice blocks, hit two 3's. When him & Mason Williams are in there at the same time the ball moves more. I love the potential of Hawthorne.
I don't clamor for Kam but what has Hawthorne done that proves he's better than Kam?
most of his minutes he is with backups and diallo or wilkins. he plays hard and gets his hands in passing lanes. i'll take it
My problem is that team regardless of Hawthorne‘s play seems to play worse when he’s in the game.
Hes a better scorer than kam, better defender, rebounder, dribbler.
idk what kam does better lol
Not be injured and he's available
That’s my thing with him . I just can’t see what position he can defend. Don’t you think most PF’s would physically overpower him ?
Y’all might think I am nuts, but I saw freshman year Tayshaun Prince in redshirt freshman Hawthorne.
Freshman Tayshaun was virtually unplayable early on and against physical teams. But occasionally had flashes of brilliance. He was solid by March and ended up averaging the 6th most minutes of the 1998-99 team. Freshman Tayshaun averaged 5.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg and shot 28% from 3.
Hawthorne has promise, but he’s a 10 mpg guy at most for now. Sweet stroke and you can’t teach that length.
Freshman Tayshaun was virtually unplayable early on and against physical teams. But occasionally had flashes of brilliance. He was solid by March and ended up averaging the 6th most minutes of the 1998-99 team. Freshman Tayshaun averaged 5.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg and shot 28% from 3.
Hawthorne has promise, but he’s a 10 mpg guy at most for now. Sweet stroke and you can’t teach that length.
well he has length, but yes he has to continue to get stronger. you can be "skinny" though and still be a good player, even on D.
Hawthorne is a very good player for Pope’s system. We will see stretches when Hawthorne- Kam - Williams & the 2 MM’s will be on the floor together. That’s a lot of offensive firepower on the floor together.
All arms and legs. Cant remember the last UK player that redshirted and was STILL so physically underdeveloped. Classic case of a kid growing too fast and the coordination hasn't caught up.
Once his mind catches up to his body, he might have something. Till then he's just a raw gangly kid who's production needs to be seen as a bonus instead of a given.
Ps whoever on the staff last year that leaked how awesome he was in practice was obviously way off. A year ago he probably could barely walk and chew gum at the same time and in no way could've impacted anything.
Pss its sad we're in a spot where we have to hope a random project grows into his 6'9" body and can be a consistent contributor.
Once his mind catches up to his body, he might have something. Till then he's just a raw gangly kid who's production needs to be seen as a bonus instead of a given.
Ps whoever on the staff last year that leaked how awesome he was in practice was obviously way off. A year ago he probably could barely walk and chew gum at the same time and in no way could've impacted anything.
Pss its sad we're in a spot where we have to hope a random project grows into his 6'9" body and can be a consistent contributor.
We didn’t play great overall and their guards smoked us with straight line drives and the bigs couldn’t stop them either or get many blocks. I know we blocked some shots but wee swiped air a lot too.
in OT played well and we won the game but there is significant cleanup to do.
glad we played UCF, they brought attention to some defensive problems.
We will get nothing but better.
in OT played well and we won the game but there is significant cleanup to do.
glad we played UCF, they brought attention to some defensive problems.
We will get nothing but better.
I like what Hawthorne gave us last night. He's not a star, but he wasn't expected to be. Because we only have 4 guards on the roster (I don't count Lil' Hawthorne), and one of those is OUT indefinitely (maybe for the season), Hawthorne may be an option out of necessity to play some guard, and would create some matchup problems with his length on defense, as we saw last night.
I find this to be a terrifying thought. After watching Jasper be such a turnover machine when forced to dribble against pressure last year, I cringe at the very thought of Hawthorne being forced into a guard role.
I really hate that we’re only one injury away from yet ANOTHER guard shortage crisis. You’d think after that same issue plagued both of his first two seasons, Pope would’ve learned that if there’s any position that he needs to make sure he’s OVER stocked at, it’s point guard.
Let’s hope Morton recovers sooner than expected.
I don’t know about that. I saw freshman Prince light up Vandy in their building.
He looked like young Tay a few times last night. Dude was disruptive. He gets lost, but also plays smoothly and a couple of threes were so easy and so advanced. He was not afraid to body up on defense and take on Dior Johnson. I am very excited for his future. I also liked the end of the game play. I think he will gain confidence and start knocking things down in a few months. Dude has a high ceiling and is showing why teammates were talking NBA for him last season.
Hawthorne came off the bench and hit two threes and blocked shots - one of the few people getting out on the perimeter shooters. I liked his energy and believe he is only going to improve with more playing time. Kudos to Hawthorne!
I don't think that's true at all. Kam is really good defensively and I can see a world where he's very solid offensively. But he's got to get healthy. Hawthorne couldn't defend a wheelchair on the ball. Just gets his doors blown off by even the most average of perimeter players. He does come off the ball and use his length at times. Needs to learn to use that on the ball as well.
TP had solid handles, even as a frosh. And was very good defensively then as well. He was hard to watch at times, but those two things kept him on the floor early on that season.
If he couldn't defend the perimeter players he was on last night, he's certainly not ready to guard the other teams guards. At least against a good team. And his handles, woof. But honestly, he or Kam or Trent are probably going to have to do it at some point, especially if Morton is done (I believe he is). Players get dinged up and get in foul trouble. Sheesh, Wilkins seems to be in most games. His 4th foul last night, sheesh, talk about a boneheaded play.
Dude. Stop. It's not good for a 3. It's atrocious for a 2. Can it get better? Sure. But he'd get eaten alive if he was forced into handling. That and he's not strong enough to keep anyone off of him. I think there's something there with him, he's just got a ways to go.
Agree. Still looks a bit nervous and tentative. Body language showed it. Only cure is time and experience. But that said overall he really contributed.
Hawthorne has more blocks last game than kam has had his entire uk career lol, hawthornes better and your angry about it
Truth. Easy fix, I hope. He's just got to realize we have zero guard depth and can't put himself or the team in that position.
And got his doors blown off on straight line drives more than Kam has his entire UK career? There's more to how someone plays than a box score.
FTR, I'm no Kam lemming. I just think he's the best option to backup both Mom and N'Diaye, but that's going to quickly fade if he doesn't get his butt on the court. I'd rather see Hawthorne than Noah or McBride, honestly. I think there's something there. Spot minutes along with a lot of work in practices can cultivate it. I can see a world where he's a 15-20 min/game guy by Jan or Feb.
Well, duh. That's how this whole message board thing works.
Kam Williams wouldn’t play at Duke or Florida. He definitely can play for the Kentucky Hoosiers though!
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