Top WVU Basketball 2025 Signee Earns Boost in Star Rating

WVU basketball signee Braydon Hawthorne received a bump up in the recruiting rankings this month, elevating him to a four-star prospect.

Hawthorne, the top prospect in West Virginia this year, has always been ranked around the 300s but was recently bumped up to No. 150 by 247Sports, now making him a four-star recruit. A Beckley, W.Va. native, Hawthorne has been considered one of the best sleeper prospects in the 2025 class and it appears the recruiting rankings are starting to acknowledge his potential.

Hawthorne’s bump now makes all three of WVU’s 2025 signees four-star prospects. Hawthrown joins Kelvin Odih and Trent MacLean in that regard. All three officially signed with WVU last month.

Hawthorne was the MVP at the Dr. Pepper Classic and rated as one of the top standouts at the Paul Biancardi Camp. He 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.

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