The Kentucky Wildcats are on the board again for next season, this time securing a commitment from 4-star small forward Braydon Hawthorne, who announced his pledge to the Wildcats on Tuesday.
Hawthorne made the call during a ceremony that was streamed by 247 Sports. He’s ranked 33rd overall in the 2025 class by 247 Sports, 35th by On3, 81st by ESPN, and is an unranked 4-star prospect at Rivals.
The 6-foot-8, 175-pound wing out of Beckley (WV) was previously committed to the Mountaineers before reopening his recruitment. After taking visits and evaluating several high-major programs, Hawthorne has decided to begin his college career at Kentucky, joining a 2025 class that includes high 4-star recruits Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno.
His final five schools included Kentucky, Duke, Pitt, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia. He visited Kentucky in mid-April and was considered a serious target for Wildcats head coach Mark Pope. Virginia Tech also hosted Hawthorne soon after, making a late push for the prospect.
Ultimately, his decision was viewed as a Kentucky vs. West Virginia battle, and the Cats won out thanks to the efforts of Mark Pope and Co.
Here’s a brief scouting report of Hawthorne from On3’s Jamie Shaw.
Braydon Hawthorne is a unique player. A definite late-bloomer, someone who is already producing on the national stage, but his best basketball is still clearly in front of him. Currently in the 6-foot-8, 6-foot-9 range, Hawthorne has true wing skills. He can put the ball on the floor in the half-court to self create an opportunity. Athletically, he still needs to add strength. While he is fluid in his movements, he has average pop. However, what he does have is length and instincts, which he uses to an advantage.
