Braydon Hawthorne, a 6-foot-8, 185-pound small forward from Beckley, West Virginia, has recently reopened his recruitment following the departure of West Virginia’s head coach Darian DeVries to Indiana. Hawthorne had previously signed a National Letter of Intent with the Mountaineers for the 2025–26 season. He is now considering several top programs, including Kentucky, Michigan, and Virginia Tech.
Kentucky has shown significant interest, with plans for Hawthorne to visit the Wildcats next Wednesday. This follows a Zoom meeting between Hawthorne and Kentucky’s coaching staff, indicating mutual interest. Hawthorne is also considering visits to Michigan and Virginia Tech .
Ranked as high as 48th nationally and 11th among small forwards by On3, and 71st overall and 16th among small forwards by 247Sports, Hawthorne is regarded as a promising late-bloomer. He had previously committed to West Virginia over offers from programs like Virginia Tech and Wichita State. His recruitment has garnered attention from several top programs, reflecting his rising stock in the 2025 class .
Hawthorne is currently visiting West Virginia, the school he initially signed with, and may visit Michigan and Virginia Tech.
As a versatile wing player with strong defensive abilities and shooting skills, Hawthorne’s recruitment is one to watch as he narrows down his options.
