Braydon Hawthorne’s Meteoric Rise Puts Duke Basketball on High Alert
Braydon Hawthorne, the electrifying 6-foot-8 small forward out of Huntington Prep (W.Va.), is turning heads—and Duke basketball is paying close attention.
Once ranked No. 304 just five months ago, Hawthorne has skyrocketed 38 spots this week alone, landing at No. 33 overall in the 2025 247Sports Rankings. Now No. 10 at his position and one of the top 20 four-star prospects in the class, he’s become one of the hottest names on the recruiting trail.
Since decommitting from West Virginia in March, Hawthorne has been in high demand, making visits to Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Pitt, and most recently, Duke. His trip to Durham wrapped up nearly a week ago, and while no commitment has been made, Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils remain firmly in the mix.
Hawthorne brings a tantalizing blend of length, shot creation, and playmaking ability, fitting the mold of a modern wing with serious upside. As Duke’s 2025-26 roster continues to take shape—with Cameron and Cayden Boozer and Nikolas Khamenia already committed—the question remains: Will Hawthorne be the next elite talent to wear the Duke blue?
Stay locked in—this recruitment is far from over.
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