Braydon Hawthorne is a stud and has been tearing it up in practice....
And that Pope is going to try to get him some minutes sooner rather than later...
And that Pope is going to try to get him some minutes sooner rather than later...
Sharing what I just heard...
- Thread starter nicky
- Start date
With the injuries we have had, if anyone is tearing anything up, they need to be playing
Pope also said he was excited to take the Ferrari on a cruise.
At this point, no need to burn this kid's RS.
At this point, no need to burn this kid's RS.
Yeah, well, Mark Pope thinks Brandon Garrison is a stud too so I’m not putting much stock into that statement. Smdh. Dude is the worst.
Why not? Things aren't like they used to be....there's no promise he would hang around next year so use him while you have him
Don't say "He's tearing it up" in reference to Kentucky basketball players. That has come to mean AN ACL, A HAMSTRING, AN ANKLE, A KNEE, and so on. I see those words and my heart starts hammering...
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No chance a kid stays here for 4 or 5 years, just burn it.
If he is really good - NBA will come calling
If he is bad (blow average aka Travis Perry) but thinks he is good - he will transfer
If he is a average/roll player and thinks he is a star he will demand unwarranted mins- he will transfer
The one special way he stays all 4 years.
He gets 20 plus mins and is right below where the NBA needs him but he needs to work on 1 thing. And he gradually gets better at that one thing for 3 years while getting enough NIL to warrant staying put.
It is so highly unlikely these days just burn it. My 2 cents that don't mean a thing.
If he is really good - NBA will come calling
If he is bad (blow average aka Travis Perry) but thinks he is good - he will transfer
If he is a average/roll player and thinks he is a star he will demand unwarranted mins- he will transfer
The one special way he stays all 4 years.
He gets 20 plus mins and is right below where the NBA needs him but he needs to work on 1 thing. And he gradually gets better at that one thing for 3 years while getting enough NIL to warrant staying put.
It is so highly unlikely these days just burn it. My 2 cents that don't mean a thing.
If he were that good he’d already be playing. I’m not saying he can’t help but let’s keep expectations reasonable.
He's had a calf injury and sprained his ankle in Monday's practice....so I guess we'll see if he can heal up so as to play
Does his ankle injury affect this?
I cannot imagine burning a redshirt this late in the season but if he can play, play him. But I'll believe it when I see it.
Why hasn’t he been playing all season then, why even rs if he’s that good?
Leaked photos of last practice..
Weird timing considering pope just said he has an ankle injury? But play him, can’t hurt.
We all seen what expectations mean look at that big dud on the bench
We are so privileged to have so many insiders on this board. When me and Mark (pope) were at brunch last week I noted how awesome it was that so many people knew the inner workings of the basketball program.
True that you can't count on ANY player to stay at 1 school for 4-5 years now.
But that doesn't mean you should exploit him either (not saying playing him would).
If he is really really good, yeah, he won't even use that last year (maybe 2). But maybe he's very good, good enough to play in the NBA, but only after 4 full years of playing college ball. Those guys do exist.
Not every good or average or roll player thinks he is a start and makes unreasonable demands. I think Cal's time at UK has jaded many UK fans opinions on players, when Cal sought out players with higher than average expectations (remember the story where he told 5'8 Ulis on his visit "if you don't think you will be good enough to leave UK early to play in the NBA, don't come to Kentucky").
All that said, if he looks good enough to contribute the last 30-40% of the season, then I'm sure it's not just a Pope decision, but that he will discuss it with Hawthorne (maybe even his parents too). Put it all out on the table (e.g. I think you can help us, probably playing X-Y minutes per game. But it will cost you an extra season. I understand and won't hold it against you if you decide to stick with your RS, but I'd love to have you on the floor this last month plus.) for Hawthorne to decide.
Awesome. He’s a first ballot practice hall of famer right there next to Matt Pilgrim.
But what is the downside to burning his redshirt? He's not going to be at UK for 5 years anyway if he turns out to be as good as we hope.
BH has been battling recent injuries or he may have already seen game action.
When the goal is #9 you hold nothing back, he along with Noah knocking down 2 or 3 threes could be the edge we need, I think all the other players have pretty well maxed out with the exception of Jasper who will not let the game come to him and he gives up more than he gives and shows no willingness change.
Why? He will never be here for that 5th year of eligibility. The redshirt will not benefit UK.
BH redshirting makes sense for him personally. So totally understandable if they don’t wanna burn it.
I am by no means saying BH is our savior if he does play, but imo, it’s worth trotting him out there just to see…as long as his family is okay with it.
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This is exactly right, but the family may be the one pushing to not burn the redshirt. Because preserving that year of eligibility does ultimately benefit them if he is not an NBA guy and can be a solid college player. So I get it from their perspective…but from Kentucky’s perspective, burning the rs would not matter one bit.
It wasn't Pope I heard it from....but from someone everyone would know and attends practice quite frequently
Hawthorne is very athletic and raw. Potential is there, if he stays and develops a jumper he could be a good contributor eventually.
I have a question for those of you who may know or have seen something on this, but is Hawthorne now closer to 6'10" than 6'8"? He looks like that to me, and I've seen him a few times in person. But maybe it's just the lankiness making him appear taller, I don't know.
Most people forget, or don't remember that Hawthorne redshirting is/was HIS idea. He came to UK planning to redshirt to get better, build muscle, get more physical, and learn the system. Pope even said in one of his press conferences that he'd discussed breaking his redshirt with him and his family and that it was THEIR decision on whether or not to.
He's super athletic for sure, but also extremely raw still. There's plays where he looks like a young Tayshaun Prince, then there's several plays where he looks like a deer on ice skates. Burning the redshirt would add a body, but it won't make this team instantly better imo. I do think that next year, Hawthorne will be very good if he stays at UK and continues to progress.
He's super athletic for sure, but also extremely raw still. There's plays where he looks like a young Tayshaun Prince, then there's several plays where he looks like a deer on ice skates. Burning the redshirt would add a body, but it won't make this team instantly better imo. I do think that next year, Hawthorne will be very good if he stays at UK and continues to progress.
Who did you hear it from?
If he was so good, he would have been playing already.
Not doubting you (or him) at all but , unless he’s gained 20 lbs. I don’t see how he could be that effective.
Heck, by the time he's a senior he may be collecting NIL at UK, have a 2 way contract playing in the G-league, suit up for the Lakers, but be back to UK in time for March Madness.
Agree. Yesterday's rules don't apply today. Play the kid if he can help besides, "tearing it up" in practice doesn't always translate to live game situations.