One of the players that is most intriguing to me is Braydon Hawthorne. The Beckley, West Virginia native was a late add to last year’s class.
There was a back-and-forth all year long between the coaching staff and Hawthorne about playing this year, but a late ankle injury pretty much ended that debate. And that was probably the right path. He will now have a full year in college, adding weight to his 6’8 frame. That will help with the physical battles on defense and help him finish through contact.
And he has already confirmed that he is coming back, and that is great news for more than one reason.
Braydon Hawthorne’s versatility could be key
Hawthorne had a great senior season, rising all the way up to a top 120 player in the country. He is long and athletic and can be a great defender because of that length. And Kentucky is definitely losing Otega Oweh, who is a wing defender, and you have to have people who can stop the other team’s best player. While Hawthorne may not be a full-fledged defensive stopper, he will add speed and height and, more importantly, versatility to the roster…