4-star 2025 wing Braydon Hawthorne commits to Kentucky

Mark Pope has added another piece to Kentucky’s 2025-26 roster.

On Tuesday night, four-star class of 2025 small forward Braydon Hawthorne announced his commitment to the Wildcats. The 6-foot-8 wing, who is credited with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, chose Kentucky live on 247Sports’ YouTube channel, picking UK over the likes of Duke, Pitt, West Virginia, and Virginia Tech.

“His ability to shoot the ball [is his greatest strength],” Hawthorne’s high school coach, Arkell Bruce, told KSR+ last month. “That, and he’s coachable. He accepts coaching. He’s a yes-sir, no-sir type. You can coach him hard.”

Hawthorne, a native of West Virginia, becomes the 14th addition — including Otega Oweh, who continues to go through the NBA Draft process — to Pope’s second Kentucky team. He joins an incoming high school class that also includes four-star guard Jasper Johnson and four-star center Malachi Moreno.

NEWS: 4⭐️ Braydon Hawthorne, On3’s No. 35 overall recruit in the 2025 class, has committed to Kentucky, he announced.

The 6-8 Small Forward is a high-upside prospect with a 7-3 wingspan. Former West Virginia signee. https://t.co/ShfLkgUHgJ pic.twitter.com/2nyc3dMY0G

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) May 20, 2025

Once a borderline top 100 prospect, Hawthorne’s stock took off thanks to an impressive senior season at Huntington Prep (WV). He was previously committed to West Virginia from October 2024 until the Mountaineers’ coaching change in March 2025. Hawthorne officially visited all five of his finalists, spending a few days on UK’s campus in mid-April.

In the end, Kentucky’s pitch won out.

“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,” On3 national analyst Jamie Shaw said of Hawthorne’s game. “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.”  

It’s yet to be seen if there will be an immediate role for Hawthorne as a freshman with the Wildcats, but he could be a terrific developmental piece for Mark Pope and company in the long term. Welcome to the BBN, Braydon.

Kentucky Men’s Basketball 2025-26 Roster Tracker

COMMITS (8)

• Kam Williams – G – Tulane – 9.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 48.5% FG, 41.2% 3PT | Committed 3/28
• Jaland Lowe – G – Pittsburgh – 16.8 PPG, 5.5 APG, 4.2 RPG, 37.6% FG, 26.6% 3PT | Committed 4/5
• Mouhamed Dioubate – F – Alabama – 7.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.1 APG, 61.7% FG, 46.2% 3PT | Committed 4/7
• Jayden Quaintance – F – Arizona State – 9.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.6 BPG, 52.5 FG% | Committed 4/8
• Andrija Jelavic – C – Mega Basket — 10.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.4 APG, 50.3% FG, 32.3% 3PT | – Committed 4/12
• Denzel Aberdeen – G – Florida – 7.7 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 41.8 FG%, 35 3PT% | Committed 4/21
• Reece Potter – C – Miami (OH) — 6.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.2 APG, 46.6 FG%, 36.7 3PT% | Committed 5/5
• Braydon Hawthorne – SF – Huntington Prep (WV) – 4-star, No. 35 overall | Committed 5/20

RETURNING / INCOMING (6)

• Otega Oweh – G – Rising Senior – 16.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 49.2% FG, 35.5% 3PT | Going through NBA Draft process
• Brandon Garrison – C – Rising Junior – 5.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 50.9% | Confirmed return on 4/12
• Collin Chandler – C- Rising Sophomore – 2.7 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 36.1% FG, 34.7% 3PT | Confirmed return on 4/17
• Trent Noah – F – Rising Sophomore – 2.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.4 APG, 45.1% FG, 33.3% 3PT | Confirmed return on 4/18
• Malachi Moreno – C – Incoming Freshman – Great Crossing (Georgetown, KY)
• Jasper Johnson – SG – Incoming Freshman – Overtime Elite (Lexington, KY)