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<\/p>\nExpectations are beginning to rise around Hawthorne, and one of his Kentucky teammates believes the versatile wing is ready to make a major impact.<\/p>\n
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Speaking with local media this week, Kam Williams praised Hawthorne’s all-around game, offering an encouraging assessment of the redshirt freshman ahead of the 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n
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Hawthorne arrived at Kentucky as a four-star recruit but spent his first year developing behind the scenes, leaving fans with little opportunity to see what he could bring to the court. Now, after a full season of learning the program and refining his game, anticipation is growing that he could emerge as an important contributor.<\/p>\n
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Williams highlighted Hawthorne’s versatility, noting that the 6-foot-8 wing impacts the game in several ways.<\/p>\n
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“He brings a lot of different things. He’s a great player. He can shoot, dribble, play defense. His wingspan is crazy; he can block shots,” Williams said.<\/p>\n
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Hawthorne’s combination of size, athleticism and length allows him to defend multiple positions while creating matchup problems offensively. His skill set fits the mold of the modern two-way wing, capable of scoring from all three levels while disrupting opponents on the defensive end.<\/p>\n
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Williams also pointed to the value of Hawthorne’s redshirt season, explaining that the extra year gave him time to develop both physically and mentally before stepping into a larger role.<\/p>\n
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“He took last year to develop, and now everyone gets to see what he worked on,” Williams added.<\/p>\n
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Perhaps the biggest improvement Williams has noticed is Hawthorne’s confidence. He explained that the young forward has become much more vocal and willing to lead drills, a significant change from the hesitation that often comes with being a freshman.<\/p>\n
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According to Williams, Hawthorne has grown into someone who now takes initiative during practice, demonstrating the maturity that comes from spending a year in the program.<\/p>\n
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With roster continuity becoming increasingly rare in the transfer portal era, returning players with experience in the system have become even more valuable. Hawthorne joins teammates such as Trent Noah and Malachi Moreno as players expected to take significant steps forward after gaining familiarity with Mark Popes<\/em> system.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If Williams’ evaluation proves accurate, Hawthorne could become one of Kentucky’s biggest breakout players this season, giving the Wildcats another versatile weapon as they pursue SEC and national championship aspirations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"