The Kentucky basketball injury report is starting to look like a CVS receipt.
Mark Pope, on his weekly radio show, let us know that Otega Oweh rolled his ankle before the Arkansas game, then toughed it out and played his best game of the season.
But the latest entry on the list might have just clarified the biggest roster question mark of the season.
He also let slip that freshman Braydon Hawthorne rolled his ankle after the trip to Fayetteville. While you never want to see a player go down, this specific knock seems to confirm what many have suspected for weeks: Hawthorneâs redshirt season is officially written in the stars.
The decision should now be made
The coaching staff has wrestled with the Hawthorne decision all year. Do you burn his redshirt to add depth, especially after Williams went down? Or do you play the long game?
This injury effectively ends the debate. It is highly unlikely we see Hawthorne on the floor this season, and honestly? That is exactly how it should be.
Elite talent just following the "old school" path
In the era of instant gratification, we tend to forget the value of a true redshirt year. Hawthorne was a late riser in the 2025 class, flipping to Kentucky late in the process over West Virginia. He is an electric athlete, but he is also a "late bloomer" who needs time to let his body catch up to his skill set.
This injury should guarantee him a full year in a college weight program without the wear and tear of games.
- He learns the system.
- He transforms his body.
- He adjusts to the speed of the college game in practice.
It is the old-school football model: You come in, you sit, you get strong, and you unleash all you have learned in your second year. It works.
The portal caveat
Of course, in 2026, the elephant in the room is the Transfer Portal. Cynics will argue that developing a player for a year only prepares him to star for someone else if he decides to transfer in the spring.
That is a reality every coach faces. But you cannot coach out of fear. You cannot play the "what if" game. The smart move was always to let Hawthorne develop at his own pace. The ankle injury just made sure Kentucky stuck to the plan.
If he heals up, bulks up, and stays in Lexington, the Wildcats are going to have a monster on their hands next November.