21-05-2025
4-star forward Braydon Hawthorne commits to Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Just when you thought Mark Pope had his 2025 Kentucky basketball roster all set, he made another addition on Tuesday with the commitment of four-star Braydon Hawthorne.
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Hawthorne is a 6-foot-8 small forward who lately has been rising up recruiting boards in the class of 2025. He is ranked No. 33 nationally by 247 Sports, No. 10 by position and No. 1 in his home state of West Virginia.
He played high school ball at Huntington Prep and committed to play at West Virginia, but then decommitted when Mountaineers' head coach Darian DeVries left to take the job at Indiana. He kept WVU in his top five with Kentucky, Duke, Pitt and Virginia Tech and chose the Wildcats.
Hawthorne is viewed as a prospect with a ton of potential as a long-term project and not considered to be a one-and-done, but could provide value immediately on both ends of the floor with his 7-foot-3 wingspan.
Kentucky basketball: Pope discusses 'hungry' roster, Otega Oweh
The final piece for Kentucky is waiting on Otega Oweh's decision on whether to stay in the NBA Draft or return to school. He has until May 28th at 11:59 p.m. to make that decision.
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