ESPN 100 Braydon Hawthorne is committed to Kentucky

ESPN 100 Wing Braydon Hawthorne, one of the prospects faster in the senior class, announced his commitment to Kentucky on Tuesday.

Hawthorne initially signed with Western Virginia the past fall, but retired from the mountaineers after Draian Devries went to Indiana. After reopening his recruitment, Hawthorne made visits to Kentucky, Duke, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, as well as West Virginia under the new coach Ross Hodge.

But Kentucky coach Mark Pope turned Hawthorne into a priority immediately after returning to the market and continued his search in the last two months.

“When I disassembled from Virginia Occidental when there was a change of coach, Mark Pope was the first chief coach to call. That meant a lot,” Hawthorne told ESPN. “[Assistant coach] Jason Hart has been recruiting me for a long time and all the staff has been wonderful. “

“I have a great relationship with coach Pope and the staff. We have had many conversations about basketball and life. I have been a life fan of Kentucky. This means everything to me.”

When Hawthorne promised for the first time with Western Virginia, the other schools involved were Old Dominion and Ohio University. But the 6 -foot and 8 -inch wing had an excellent senior season in Huntington PREP (West Virginia) and climbed to the ESPN 100 ranking, at number 81.

A late flow perspective with physical measurable, mobility, athletics and development skills, Hawthorne can play the backward position and is effective both in painting and in the perimeter. It covers land and shrinks the floor in defense, with the ability to create deviations, robberies and shots blocked with its length and athletics. As its frame is filled and its skills develop, it has NBA rising potential.

“His wingspan 7-3 and his rise attention, and his production is reaching his potential,” said Huntington's coach Dustin Woody. Pope and Kentucky are bringing 10 new players for the 2025-26 season, including six transfers and a recruitment class among the 10 best.

Hawthorne is the third ESPN 100 prospect in Kentucky class 2025, joining Jasper Johnson (No. 18) and Malachi Moreno (No. 25). The international prospect Andrija Jelavic is also part of the incoming class of the Wildcats.

“They see me as a versatile piece that can play multiple positions,” said Hawthorne. “I know I have to win my game time and I am willing to work for it.”