Hawthorne could be suprisingly in regular rotation next season

[chasingwildcat]

He reminds me a lot of Will Riley in Illinois

Tall, agile, can play multiple positions, high IQ player with good skill set, both two are pretty thin

I will not be surprised if Hawthorne plays a lot next year, I think it is possible that even he does not gain a lot weight in this summer, he can still be good enough to play meaningful minutes

 

[davekersey]

Scott Padgett in the making if he sticks around long enough

 

[Pelosigalore]

Maybe during mop up time or foul trouble next year. Then his sophomore year probably.
IMO

 

[davekersey]

Possibility he could get two championship rings or maybe more

 

[megablue]

Possibility he could get two championship rings or maybe more

It'd be cool to get #9 and #10 before 2030.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

We once again have a roster of grown men. I'd be surprised if any freshmen other than JJ plays big rotation minutes.

 

[UKalldayfromVA]

He is a great "sleeper pick" to have on this team! Great intangibles , and sky is the limit upside, if he puts in the work!
Ijs, not comparing at all, but "how great was AD in his freshman yr with somewhat of a thin body frame"..
6'8 and, from what I read , still growing, with a crazy wingspan. Wouldn’t be mad at all if we got an SGA surprise season from Hawthorne.

 

[BlueBomb]

It'd be cool to get #9 and #10 before 2030.

As of now, I'd just be happy to get a Final Four. Been a while.

 

[NerlensCat]

Scott Padgett in the making if he sticks around long enough

He has a way higher upside than Padgett.

 

[K_TIME]

I like pickign him up longterm....but I don't see who he knocks off minutes in 2025/26

1. He's a SF all the way for next year....6'8 175....I just can't see him playing PF.
2. So SF minutes are probably the most stacked part of roster (maybe C once Quantenance gets healthy)
- Oweh, Kam Williams and Colin Chandler, Trent Noah are all guys who will play SF....who will Hawthorne knock minutes from? He could knock Noah .....I'd have to see him knock Chandler out....but I cna't see a universe he knocks Oweh...nor Williams at the SF minutes
- Assuming SG is guys like Jasper, Aberdeen play SG


I just don't see it....About PG is the only spot I can see a kid getting rotation minutes....and Hawthorne ain't a PG

 

[chasingwildcat]

I like pickign him up longterm....but I don't see who he knocks off minutes in 2025/26

1. He's a SF all the way for next year....6'8 175....I just can't see him playing PF.
2. So SF minutes are probably the most stacked part of roster (maybe C once Quantenance gets healthy)
- Oweh, Kam Williams and Colin Chandler, Trent Noah are all guys who will play SF....who will Hawthorne knock minutes from? He could knock Noah .....I'd have to see him knock Chandler out....but I cna't see a universe he knocks Oweh...nor Williams at the SF minutes
- Assuming SG is guys like Jasper, Aberdeen play SG


I just don't see it....About PG is the only spot I can see a kid getting rotation minutes....and Hawthorne ain't a PG

If he is good enough, he will get his minutes

I think Will Riley from Illinois was only 180 pounds, similar frame with Hawthorne, and was major player for Illinois

If he is as good as freshman's Riley (just for example), he will be good enough to get some minutes

 

[bucsrule8872]

He’s not playing much unless there is a major injury, IMHO.

He’s not strong enough to play the 4 in the SEC and like K_Time said, there’s a logjam at the 3.

Oweh and Williams are likely getting the lion’s share of the minutes at the 3.

Unless we have a slew of injuries again, he won’t play much this season.

Might should redshirt, live in the weight room, and just work on his body.

We might need him at the 3/4 next season. It’s hard to say who will be back and who will leave for the NBA or portal.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Scott Padgett in the making if he sticks around long enough

Huh? Doesn’t make sense.

 

[Bluegrassking]

Scott Padgett in the making if he sticks around long enough

Seems closer to being a guard than a four to me.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

Seems closer to being a guard than a four to me.

I get Tayshawn vibes, just from a physical standpoint. If he ends up taking minutes at the 3, we're winning a natty.

 

[BlueSince92]

With Hawthorne this coming year it’s all about how Pope wants to use his roster. If we mostly play 8 or 9 deep it’s hard to see where Hawthorne squeezes in.

If Pope uses mass substitutions to grind the opponent down and keep our pace fast it’s a different story. I could see him wanting to do that, not only because we have more depth to take advantage of but also because we have more slashers and less perimeter firepower in terms of what guys have demonstrated by volume and percentage. If we play that way I don’t see why Hawthorne couldn’t get his share of those minutes. By 247 at least he’s ranked a lot higher than Travis Perry was, and ranked the same as Collin Chandler was, without the rust. Both those guys got minutes last year before we had any injuries. In either scenario he’d have to really blow up to get a lot of minutes.

 

[UK HEMINGWAY]

I see him as Brandon Ingram type.
Long, athletic enough, can shoot some, can handle some...Everything just needs to get a lil better. If he does that and adds 20 lbs i Feel like a year from now he'll get 20 min a game.

 

[NerlensCat]

Let’s not relegate the kid to the bench before we even see him playing. His play will determine how many minutes he gets.

 

[RondoBaller21]

It’s all up to these guys who plays. Practice consistently well and you’ll play.

 

[NerlensCat]

Let’s not relegate the kid to the bench before we even see him playing. His play will determine how many minutes he gets.

I would like to add, that is the same for everyone on the roster. The nice thing is, they all know they have to “compete” for minutes. Nothing is given, all is earned!

 

[MidseasonTweaks]

I suppose anything is possible, but I don't see it unless there are huge injuries.

 

[JPFisher]

Let’s not relegate the kid to the bench before we even see him playing. His play will determine how many minutes he gets.

On some level I agree, but this dude should not be tasked with playing anything besides mop up minutes unless there's a slee of injuries.

He's probably too weak to play the four at this point. He badly needs to bulk up. So, that leaves him getting SG/W minutes. I think he'd need probably three of Aberdeen, Oweh, Williams, MoD, JJ, Chandler, and Noah to get injured to play. I think he's behind all of those guys... and not just because he's wiry and will get snapped in two like a Slim Jim in the SEC. We have experienced guys in front of him who should be getting the majority of minutes. They have experience, skills, strength, and they need to be utilized properly.

If BH earns playing time, I'm all for it. I just don't see it with the cast in front of him.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

As I said last season (and it proved true until massive injuries) , none of these experienced guys transferred here to sit behind some freshmen. OP acts like this guy is John wall or cousins or towns or fox, etc. Don't see it.

 

[doc4UK]

This kid will end up at 6'10 or 6'11 " with 2 G skills

 

[ccukuk]

I would like to add, that is the same for everyone on the roster. The nice thing is, they all know they have to “compete” for minutes. Nothing is given, all is earned!

Ok Brad

 

[Cats192]

I hope he earns a ton of minutes. I think it's an uphill battle this season. That's not a knock on his ability. But he's a freshman on the thinner side. We have a team full of grown men. We will be playing teams full of grown men in the SEC.

I always make the comparison to the NBA All-Star team or the Team USA that goes to the Olympics. NBA All-Stars struggle to get minutes on these loaded teams. Someone has to be the odd man out.

Every off-season, each guy gets a thread. "I think you guys are sleeping on this guy." It's not that anyone is sleeping on him. It's just that we have a really deep and experienced roster. It's harder for a freshman to walk in to minutes.

My hope for Hawthorne is he gets stronger, puts on 15-20 lbs, and is ready to contribute next season. Anything beyond that is gravy.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

If he gets enough PT to become a a real contributor this year we are in deep trouble.

 

[UKSanders]

I would like to add, that is the same for everyone on the roster. The nice thing is, they all know they have to “compete” for minutes. Nothing is given, all is earned!

Seems like I've heard that before... 🤔
Should the players all get tattoos of that?

 

[UKSanders]

If he gets enough PT to become a a real contributor this year we are in deep trouble.

Or it could mean he is way better than expected... which would mean our OPPONENTS are in deep trouble.

 

[NerlensCat]

Seems like I've heard that before... 🤔
Should the players all get tattoos of that?

You guys have Cal Derangement Syndrome. Cal may have said it, but Pope, at least in the one season, played those who earned it.

 

[treyforuk]

He is a great "sleeper pick" to have on this team! Great intangibles , and sky is the limit upside, if he puts in the work!
Ijs, not comparing at all, but "how great was AD in his freshman yr with somewhat of a thin body frame"..
6'8 and, from what I read , still growing, with a crazy wingspan. Wouldn’t be mad at all if we got an SGA surprise season from Hawthorne.

His body and how he moves reminds me of Prince.

 

[UKSanders]

You guys have Cal Derangement Syndrome. Cal may have said it, but Pope, at least in the one season, played those who earned it.

I think you missed my sarcasm about Little Calipari's tattoo... I am in total agreement with you

 

[chasingwildcat]

 

[zoid1]

These players are definitely gonna get minutes before Hawthorne imo.
-Lowe come here to start PG
-Oweh come back our leading scorer last year
-Kam about like Hawthorne but has a year under his belt and 15lbs
-Mo being a standout already probably our starting 4 with his 7-5 wingspan
-Garrison probably start the season at the 5
-Aberdeen the 6th man from last years NC team
-Johnson one of the best shooters in the class
-Chandler really come on strong at the end of the year
-Noah was a decent rotation player last year
-Jelavic one of the best international prospects
-Moreno considered the best center in the class
-Quantice gotta play the lottery pick when he’s 100% and he’s ahead of achedule
-Hawthorne
-Potter were so deep he’s being talked about as a redshirt

Will we have by my count minutes for the 13th guy?

 

[blue cincy]

This coming year will be very interesting to see who gets minutes. One thing for sure with CMP. If a guy shows out each and every day he will get minutes in games. Does not matter year, size or anything else. CMP wants to win. Plain and simple. If Hawthorne plays better than say Jelavic then he will play more. I do not put anything past CMP. I know he will get the best out of guys and will put the right guys on the floor. I hope we have better luck with injuries. I hope we have guys healthy from day 1 this fall including JQ. Doubt highly JQ till closer to regular season but he should be able to be in game shape (cardio) early on. If he is jogging now he has pain tolerance and is getting through the hard times. Keep it up JQ.

 

[sosoblue]

I'm not surprised at all. Pope doesn't recruit scrubs. I believe he recruits people whom he thinks can play at this level.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

This kid will end up at 6'10 or 6'11 " with 2 G skills

Sounds like someone that played on the 2012 TEAM

 

[MathUK]

These players are definitely gonna get minutes before Hawthorne imo.
-Lowe come here to start PG
-Oweh come back our leading scorer last year
-Kam about like Hawthorne but has a year under his belt and 15lbs
-Mo being a standout already probably our starting 4 with his 7-5 wingspan
-Garrison probably start the season at the 5
-Aberdeen the 6th man from last years NC team
-Johnson one of the best shooters in the class
-Chandler really come on strong at the end of the year
-Noah was a decent rotation player last year
-Jelavic one of the best international prospects
-Moreno considered the best center in the class
-Quantice gotta play the lottery pick when he’s 100% and he’s ahead of achedule
-Hawthorne
-Potter were so deep he’s being talked about as a redshirt

Will we have by my count minutes for the 13th guy?

Who are Quadenance and Quantice that you folks speak of?

 

[Fox2monk]

These players are definitely gonna get minutes before Hawthorne imo.
-Lowe come here to start PG
-Oweh come back our leading scorer last year
-Kam about like Hawthorne but has a year under his belt and 15lbs
-Mo being a standout already probably our starting 4 with his 7-5 wingspan
-Garrison probably start the season at the 5
-Aberdeen the 6th man from last years NC team
-Johnson one of the best shooters in the class
-Chandler really come on strong at the end of the year
-Noah was a decent rotation player last year
-Jelavic one of the best international prospects
-Moreno considered the best center in the class
-Quantice gotta play the lottery pick when he’s 100% and he’s ahead of achedule
-Hawthorne
-Potter were so deep he’s being talked about as a redshirt

Will we have by my count minutes for the 13th guy?

On the surface yeah but if turns out to be a top 7-8 player he must play. These are pros now.