Before he left to take the Indiana job this offseason, former West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries had a good 2025 recruiting class. However, the coaching change caused the group to de-commit, now available as a late option for teams. One of them is Braydon Hawthorne, a 6’8 small forward from the state of West Virginia, known for his athleticism and overall scoring ability.
Hawthorne is a consensus four-star prospect, ranked in most top-100 recruiting services. Since becoming a free agent, the talented wing has received interest from some big-name programs. He’s either gone or will visit in the coming weeks with four teams.
Here’s a closer look at how Hawthorne would fit with each of them.
Duke Blue Devils
Duke has had several transactions among the wing positions in the past two weeks. Five-star prospect Sheldon Henderson de-committed to go to Miami, while the team landed a commitment from Washington State transfer Cedric Coward. He’s also in the NBA Draft process, so if he returns, there isn’t any actual room for Hawthorne. If he’s gone, then this becomes a more realistic option.
Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky landed several great transfers, so getting into the rotation as a freshman will be hard. However, if leading scorer Otega Oweh decides to remain in the NBA Draft, that opens things up on the wings, with just Tulane transfer Kam Williams and Trent Noah on the roster. His decision could allow Hawthorne to have a role with the team.
Pittsburgh Panthers
The Panthers are rivals of West Virginia, but they’re also the next-closest option for Hawthorne if staying close to home is important. There’s also definite room for him in the rotation and could potentially start, pairing with South Alabama transfer Barry Dunning as combo forwards for next season.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech’s roster rebuilding has gone slowly, with several spots open. That includes on the wing, with incoming freshman Sin’Cere Jones currently projected to start. On paper, Hawthorne would be an upgrade and likely start for the Hokies on opening night and could even have a fairly sizeable role in the offense.