Amid a slew of negative headlines, it appears Mark Pope might have finally caught a break. Braydon Hawthorne, who was widely linked with a move away from Kentucky in the transfer portal, has decided to return to the Wildcats for another season.
Hawthorne confirmed the same via his Instagram and it lays to rest any headaches the Kentucky higher ups might have had about his commitment to the program.
Add to this the fact that his brother Zyon Hawthorne has also committed to Kentucky, and it’s a double celebration for the team from Lexington.
There’s bound to have been questions asked over Braydon’s sudden decision to return to Kentucky, though, and in the era of NIL where money basically talks everywhere, it would have been fair to assume that a lucrative deal was struck behind the scenes to keep him from leaving.
While that’s still possible, it appears Braydon has a lot more to thank Kentucky for than what first meets the eye. A 2015 summer camp shows him and his brother Zyon sporting Kentucky shirts as they represent the team with pride over a decade ago.
Family ties clearly mean a lot to the Hawthornes and this will fill the Wildcat faithful with joy, knowing that this appears to be far beyond just monetary benefits.
Mark Pope Under Massive Pressure from All Angles
For Mark Pope, things haven’t been going to plan. After failing to secure Rob Wright III from BYU, there’s now speculation that his own job could be in danger, especially since Billy Donovan has made himself available in the coaching landscape once again.
Kentucky’s spending in the NIL era was seen as a way to get the team back to the top under Pope, but after exiting the NCAA Tournament early and now failing to meet transfer portal objectives, at least so far, pressure is mounting on the charismatic head coach.
But if it’s any consolation, adding the Hawthorne brothers might bring some stability to the team at a time when Mark Pope needs it the most.
Kentucky fans will hope that the mismanagement allegations can be laid to rest and the new season can begin with some renewed hope rather than the current chaos.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
