For Kentucky fans, Bryce Hopkins is not just another opposing forward. He is a walking reminder of a weird, frustrating era where a talented kid arrived with real hype and never got the runway he probably deserved.
Back in 2021, Hopkins came to Lexington as a four star recruit who looked like a classic fit. Strong, versatile, the kind of forward who could bully smaller wings and stretch bigger ones. Instead of becoming a staple, he became a what if. Twenty eight games. Just 6.4 minutes and 2.1 points a night.
There were flashes. Everyone remembers LSU.