Kentucky Set to Host 2025 4-Star SF Braydon Hawthorne for an Official Visit

Kentucky has been making plenty of moves in the transfer portal this offseason. However, the high school ranks are still on their radar. Following Acaden Lewis‘ decommitment on Thursday, UK has shifted its sights on a new high school prospect.

2025 four-star forward Braydon Hawthorne will be taking an official visit to Kentucky on Wednesday, April 16, his father tells KSR+. Travis Branham of 247Sports was the first to report the news.

Hawthorne, a 6-foot-8, 185-pound small forward from Huntington Prep (Huntington, WV) decommitted from West Virginia after Darian DeVries took the head coaching position at Indiana. He is visiting with West Virginia’s new coaching staff on Sunday, and is in talks with Virginia Tech and Michigan to set visits.

Hawthorne had a Zoom call with Kentucky earlier this spring. He’s also in contact with West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Michigan, Indiana, Kansas State, Arizona State, Marquette, Virginia, Oklahoma State, Dayton, and others.

Braydon Hawthorne’s Game

2025 three-star forward Braydon Hawthorne of Huntington Prep (WV) is the nation’s No. 145 overall prospect, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. On3 ranks Hawthorne as the No. 48 player overall, the No. 11 small forward and the overall best player in West Virginia.

“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 wrote. 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.”