With a rising national ranking and a polished skillset that could make an immediate impact in a major college program, Huntington Prep (W.Va.) senior forward Braydon Hawthorne has revealed his commitment.
Hawthorne had originally committed to West Virginia last October and signed with the Mountaineers during the early signing period in November. However, he reopened his recruitment in late March, shortly before Duke officially entered the picture.
Duke’s 2025 recruiting class currently features three five-star prospects—Cameron Boozer, Nikolas Khamenia, and Cayden Boozer—and ranks third nationally. If Hawthorne commits to the Blue Devils, the addition could propel Duke back to the No. 1 spot in the class rankings, surpassing Arizona and Houston. Duke previously held the top spot until Shelton Henderson, a five-star forward, flipped his commitment to Miami in April.
According to a Sunday evening report by 247Sports’ Travis Branham, Hawthorne plans to announce his decision live on YouTube at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday. His final five schools include Duke, Virginia Tech, Kentucky, Pitt, and West Virginia—each of which he has recently visited.