The Duke basketball program continues to shape its 2025 roster under head coach Jon Scheyer, now actively pursuing a versatile forward to complete its recruiting class. Among the top targets is four-star prospect Braydon Hawthorne, who recently took an official visit to Durham.
Hawthorne, a 6-foot-8, 190-pound forward from Huntington Prep in West Virginia, has seen a rapid rise in his recruiting stock over recent months. Initially committed to West Virginia, he decommitted in late March and has since become one of the most sought-after undecided players in the 2025 class.
The Blue Devils began showing interest in Hawthorne a few weeks ago and followed up with an in-person visit to his school. His official visit to Duke began this past Friday, signaling a strong mutual interest.
Although he’s currently ranked No. 105 in the 247Sports Composite for the 2025 class, Hawthorne has made a significant leap—climbing 142 spots since December. Individually, 247Sports ranks him at No. 71 overall, while On3 places him even higher at No. 35, making him the third-highest ranked uncommitted player in the nation.
In addition to Duke, Hawthorne has recently visited Pittsburgh, Kentucky, and Virginia Tech, but the Blue Devils are widely viewed as the frontrunners for his commitment.
Duke’s 2025 recruiting class already features three five-star standouts: Nikolas Khamenia (Harvard-Westlake School, CA), and twin brothers Cameron and Cayden Boozer (Columbus High School, FL). These rising stars will be joining a core of returning players and possibly several incoming transfers.
Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils on SI for continued coverage of offseason moves and recruiting developments.
