Can the New WVU Basketball Staff Win Over the Top Recruit in State?

Days after Darian DeVries’ departure, Braydon Hawthorne requested his release from the WVU basketball program. However, it now appears as if West Virginia still has a chance to win over the top recruit in the state.

Hawthorne’s father reportedly told Travis Branham of 247 Sports that his son met with Ross Hodge and members of the new WVU staff over the weekend. Despite the meeting, Hawthorne is also looking at other programs with his recruitment open.

2025 four-star SF Braydon Hawthorne is currently on a visit meeting with the new West Virginia staff and will take a visit to Kentucky on Wednesday, his father tells @247Sports.

He is also in talks about taking visits to Virginia Tech and Michigan. https://t.co/gEUt8Etzuw https://t.co/DNG5Ho4SYq

— Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) April 12, 2025

Hawthorne has a visit booked with Kentucky for this coming week and is talking to Michigan and Virginia Tech as well.

WVU initially signed Hawthorne in November. Hawthorne, a 6-foot-9, 195-pound guard/forward, from Beckley, W.Va., is considered a four-star and the top prospect in West Virginia for the class of 2025 by most major recruiting outlets.

Hawthorne currently attends Huntington Expression Prep in Huntington, W.Va., playing for coach Arkell Bruce. He’s averaging 13 points and eight rebounds per game. Hawthorne previously attended Woodrow Wilson High in Beckley.

Hawthorne signed with WVU a little over a month after committing to the Mountaineers on Oct. 4.

He was the MVP at the Dr. Pepper Classic and rated as one of the top standouts at the Paul Biancardi Camp. Hawthorne also pays for the Phenom United 25’.

Hawthorne, who grew up a WVU fan, recently described what it was like to have West Virginia associate head coach Chester Frazier show up to practice at Huntington Prep during a conversation with WV Sports Now.

Frazier liked what he saw out of Hawthorne’s game and was able to get him on campus.

Hawthorne took an unofficial visit to West Virginia on Oct. 1.

“It was great. There was great energy from everybody. [The staff] told me that they want me,” Hawthorne said with WV Sports Now.

Hawthorne was able to give the staff the exciting news that he would be committing just days later.

“I feel like nothing is better than to represent your home state,” Hawthorne said.

Hawthorne picked up offers from Florida Gulf Coast, Mount St. Mary’s, Ohio, Old Dominion, Pepperdine, Radford, UMBC and Wichita State. Hawthorne took trips to Ohio and Old Dominion during his recruitment. Hawthorne is the No. 213 prospect in the country and the No. 1 player in the state of West Virginia, according to 247 Sports.

Find more coverage of WVU basketball recruiting at WV Sports Now.