Leave it to summer practice to drum up a ton of extra excitement, and potentially vitriol, among the Big Blue Nation prior to the start of a new season. These operations are generally kept under wraps, but almost always, some piece of interesting or challenging information finds a way out of the Joe Craft Center and onto the social feeds of a million and one Kentucky fans.
This time around, per a post from Tristan Pharis on X, we've been given an inside look at Mark Pope and Kentucky's "Winner's Board" and "Protect the Ball" rankings for summer practice so far. Milan Momcilovic leading in wins is no surprise, but Zyon Hawthorne topping the charts on the latter list is more than a little stunning... although, that isn't at all a bad thing.
According to Pharis, "wins" are measured daily in practice through drills and scrimmages, while the "Protect the Ball" ladder represents the team's current best playmakers.
Kentucky Basketball’s “Winner’s Board” and “Protect the Ball” rankings thus far for summer practice.
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) July 14, 2026
Milan Momcilovic is leading the team in “wins”, which is measured daily in practice though drills and scrimmages.
Protect the ball numbers show who the playmakers will be. pic.twitter.com/b7PxHio3cf
Of course, the kicker with Hawthorne (the younger brother of Braydon Hawthorne) is that he's been widely expected to be relegated to a sort of 13th-man role this season. His pickup appeared to be a compelling bit of point guard depth that could become something down the line.
The three-star guard, based on the summer impression he's already making, may have a better case for minutes than anyone previously thought.
Zyon Hawthorne's Unique Place on Kentucky
In June, the aforementioned Braydon gave his little brother a bit of time in the limelight, dubbing him a "true point guard," per KSR. That isn't just one Hawthorne having the back of another Hawthorne; Zyon's skillset is about as traditional one-spot as they come.
The 6-foot-1 floor general put up 11.2 points, seven boards, and three assists per game in his senior season with Huntington Prep, as well as having averaged a double-double across three games at Big Shots Nationals. The dude can absolutely play, and his early accomplishments in practice seem to suggest a refined playmaker ready for the collegiate jump.
What's more, the point guard position has simply become increasingly important for a Kentucky team that struggled at that spot last season. Part of bringing Hawthorne in on top of Zoom Diallo and Mason Williams was, clearly, to ensure a little extra safety at that spot. A Kentucky team under Coach Pope won't go without a designated point guard again.
And as far as Zyon Hawthorne goes, the Wildcats appear to have a guy working for a spot in the rotation, whether this season or next. As a footnote, I can't help but be extra excited that we've got two brothers playing together on a Kentucky roster again.
The legacy Harrison twins is shining on these two; they're immediately connected to those modern Kentucky legends. I don't make the rules.
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