2026-2027 Roster discussion thread

[Pobilly]

I am hoping he is just a walk-on, but not seeing that mentioned anywhere

COllege basketball does not have walkons any longer. He is one of 15 players. The 15 could be partial scholarship or full scholarship.

[UKHoops01]

KY signed another PG out of high school: Braden Hawthorne brother Zyon Hawthorne.

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-w...with-kentucky/

OK... I'm officially going to join several other fans in their "WTF is going on" cries.

Bringing on an assistant coach to get his son to commit and then bringing in the unheralded younger brother of a redshirt who just re-upped for next year for our only incoming freshmen recruits??? If this doesn't reek of desperation, I don't know what does.

[WeWant9]

I am hoping he is just a walk-on, but not seeing that mentioned anywhere

[Pobilly]

KY signed another PG out of high school: Braden Hawthorne brother Zyon Hawthorne.

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-w...with-kentucky/

[WeWant9]

And visits a few all-you-can-eat buffets...LOL

I remember during my hockey days the whole team going to all you can eat buffets and putting in work. One guy even brought his own bag and pulled out some orange chicken on the bus ride after haha

[UKHoops01]

Hopefully he lives in the gym this summer.

And visits a few all-you-can-eat buffets...LOL

[WeWant9]

Good...we may need him more than we realize.

That said, he kind of disappointed me this past season by not adding weight and improving his physique. Last I saw of him he was still skinny as a rail. Looks to have grown another inch or so and might be a legit 6'10", but being a human skeleton he really doesn't look like he could play on the interior and see minutes at the spot where he could really be useful (at the 4).

Hopefully he lives in the gym this summer.

[Pete Hogwallop]

Hawthorne officially signed on for next season

Good news! Glad he'll be back and I'm excited to see him on the court next year.

[UKHoops01]

Hawthorne officially signed on for next season

Good...we may need him more than we realize.

That said, he kind of disappointed me this past season by not adding weight and improving his physique. Last I saw of him he was still skinny as a rail. Looks to have grown another inch or so and might be a legit 6'10", but being a human skeleton he really doesn't look like he could play on the interior and see minutes at the spot where he could really be useful (at the 4).

[WeWant9]

Hawthorne officially signed on for next season

[Rondo#9]

In Rondo's defense, I don't always document when and where I see, read, hear or watch things either. That's kind of why hearsay is not admissable in court... because the accuracy and veracity can not be challenged. That said, it doesn't mean that it doesn't have legs and isn't the truth either. It's just unaccounted for information that may or may not be factually accurate.

And that's the thing. I never said it was factually accurate, I posted it because it was interesting and was curious about how much of it is true. I'm not playing 21 questions with him.

If he's wondering did it come from an "insider" , no I don't think it did. Probably just a random UK fan.

[EKYCat]

Understood. It's just the utter ridiculous of saying that everyone in basketball knew Freeman wasn't going to be allowed to come to Kentucky. By "everyone" they must have meant none of the coaches, sportswriters, talking heads or anyone else. When it's that extreme fake negativity, I just want to make sure they don't get clicks from me.

So, what about extreme positivity? Up until a day or so ago people were saying Freeman is a lock. Wright was a lock unless UK royally screwed it up (you didn't like that wording). Are people who are now saying Stokes is seriously considering Oregon just spreading negativity?

It's a little of both, isn't it?

[UKHoops01]

Understood. It's just the utter ridiculous of saying that everyone in basketball knew Freeman wasn't going to be allowed to come to Kentucky. By "everyone" they must have meant none of the coaches, sportswriters, talking heads or anyone else. When it's that extreme fake negativity, I just want to make sure they don't get clicks from me.

Yeah, I would just chalk that one up as hyperbole. It was definitely exaggerated for effect. I think there's very likely a large number of people who suspected or thought he wasn't coming to UK, but the number that actually knew he wasn't for a fact is probably limited to his inner circle.

[Pete Hogwallop]

In Rondo's defense, I don't always document when and where I see, read, hear or watch things either. That's kind of why hearsay is not admissable in court... because the accuracy and veracity can not be challenged. That said, it doesn't mean that it doesn't have legs and isn't the truth either. It's just unaccounted for information that may or may not be factually accurate.

Understood. It's just the utter ridiculous of saying that everyone in basketball knew Freeman wasn't going to be allowed to come to Kentucky. By "everyone" they must have meant none of the coaches, sportswriters, talking heads or anyone else. When it's that extreme fake negativity, I just want to make sure they don't get clicks from me.

[UKHoops01]

In Rondo's defense, I don't always document when and where I see, read, hear or watch things either. That's kind of why hearsay is not admissable in court... because the accuracy and veracity can not be challenged. That said, it doesn't mean that it doesn't have legs and isn't the truth either. It's just unaccounted for information that may or may not be factually accurate.