Sharing what I just heard...

Catzman

Heisman
Apr 29, 2002
17,439
14,486
113
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.
Your 2 cents is right on the money,BB5. Redshirting is over due to transfer portal. Money talks and loyalty to team has walked out the door!
 
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May 27, 2007
31,941
25,080
113
We hear this all the time about practice and then players end up being exactly what they always are.
Like player X is doing outstanding ..........then year 3 of said player begins and he plays exactly the same as Years 1 and 2.

We don't have previous results on this guy, but if he was this stud player he wouldn't be redshirting.
 

FitchandMurray29

All-American
Dec 11, 2021
2,749
5,810
61
He’s redshirting to still have 4 more additional possible years of NIL. Don’t let anyone tell you different. Don’t let one outlier ranking change your perception of him as a player.

These stories from Pope are just buying cover to get late enough in the season for the question to go away
 

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
12,770
20,027
113
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...
What OP meant is that Hawthorne is tearing him up in practice for his new flic Trolls On Bolls.
 

Trinity45

All-American
Oct 26, 2005
3,369
5,224
113
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...
The kid is a red shirt, he may not want to waste it this late in the year.
 

Noledynasty2490

All-American
Jul 31, 2022
4,421
8,061
113
The kid is a red shirt, he may not want to waste it this late in the year.

He ain't gonna be here 5 years if he's good.
 

Noledynasty2490

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UKortho

Heisman
Oct 13, 2015
5,162
10,059
77
Pope also said he was excited to take the Ferrari on a cruise.

At this point, no need to burn this kid's RS.

If he really is good, and I don’t trust pope for one second, the kid won’t let Mark burn a loss of one year of NIL. That sounds about like something pope would say. Just like he is praying Kam plays this year.
 

Wildcat_in_DC

All-Conference
Nov 25, 2025
928
1,505
93
Disbelief No GIF
 

DraftCat

Heisman
Moderator
Nov 5, 2011
13,227
15,122
113
If it's really about preserving a year of eligibility than you know what fixes that?

M O N E Y
 

yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
29,996
42,621
102
As an inside player weight and muscle are needed, but as an outside player speed, quick release, and shooting skills are needed. he could definitely contribute IF he has these skills.
I’m mainly thinking of defense. He would be overpowered.
 
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KyKevin

All-Conference
Dec 28, 2021
1,949
2,984
113
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.


He can be a stud, Its just not between his ears to do it on a regular bases. I won't believe Hawthorne is as good as there saying, until they put his a.ss on the floor. What coach sets out a Tashawn Prince for a red shirt, if he's a stud like were hearing. I call bull s.hit, until proven in a game and not practice. Practice is where it starts, but if you can't translate that to real games, it don't mean Jack s.hit.
 

CFE_

Heisman
Feb 27, 2023
27,050
39,484
113
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...

ankle injury and all?
 

KyKevin

All-Conference
Dec 28, 2021
1,949
2,984
113
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.



You can count on players not being around for 4 yrs, if they can take your team anywhere. If Hawthorne were that good, he would never have been red shirted in the first place. I hope like hell he proves me way wrong, and plays like fkn Kevin Durrant, but Not likely going to happen.
 

KyKevin

All-Conference
Dec 28, 2021
1,949
2,984
113
We hear this all the time about practice and then players end up being exactly what they always are.
Like player X is doing outstanding ..........then year 3 of said player begins and he plays exactly the same as Years 1 and 2.

We don't have previous results on this guy, but if he was this stud player he wouldn't be redshirting.


Maybe NIL for 5 yrs are some of these guys goal, if there not confident that they will be in the NBA.
 

Chaisey

Heisman
Nov 19, 2018
12,631
14,210
113
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.
He's definitely more.like 6-10.then 6-8 hes tall as anybody on our team now except maybe jelavic!
 
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Agent Redbone

Junior
Jan 1, 2024
168
252
42
Pope also said he was excited to take the Ferrari on a cruise.

At this point, no need to burn this kid's RS.
I don’t know man. If he is doing that well in practice I’d play him. You never know, he may transfer and then we paid him for zero production. Also, he’ll most likely be drafted before his senior year so he wouldn’t have needed a RS year.
 

Catlogic1552

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
640
1,440
93
I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a player that “was tearing it up“ in practice actually tear it up in an actual game.
 
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*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
46,469
84,880
113
I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a player that “was tearing it up“ in practice actually tear it up in an actual game.
Besides your average stars, but I get your point. Nobody like a Josh Carrier who we all wanted to break out and was a practice star ever did much in games outside Allen against MS State lol.
 
Jul 6, 2025
2,412
6,826
113
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...

I don't see how this can suddenly be true. Just because he's redshirting doesn't mean he wasn't practicing all this time.
 

Vek96

All-American
Jul 4, 2025
2,708
5,705
113
It’s too late in the year. Just have him ready to go next season.
 

Trinity45

All-American
Oct 26, 2005
3,369
5,224
113
Is he getting paid now? If so, then who cares what he wants? Suppose he would be a difference maker...are you willing to throw 3 or 4 more wins and maybe more tourney success away because he doesn't wanna?
Still his decision.