Recruiting Battle Heats Up: Virginia Tech Faces Blue Blood Showdown for Elite Wing Braydon Hawthorne
It’s been a whirlwind offseason for Virginia Tech men’s basketball, and head coach Mike Young is right in the thick of the action. From reshuffling his coaching staff to navigating the chaotic waters of the transfer portal, change has become the new normal in Blacksburg. But amidst the player movement and coaching hires, one recruitment has emerged as a high-stakes tug-of-war—four-star wing Braydon Hawthorne.
Once committed to West Virginia, Hawthorne reopened his recruitment after head coach Darren DeVries departed for Indiana. Since then, his stock has only risen. The 6-foot-8 athletic wing with a two-way game visited Virginia Tech recently, and the Hokies quickly became one of the top contenders to land him. A key reason? The hiring of Chester Frazier as associate head coach—a respected recruiter whose influence could swing the balance in Virginia Tech’s favor.
But now, the Hokies face a new challenge—and it’s massive.
This weekend, Duke University will host Hawthorne on an official visit, with head coach Jon Scheyer looking to bring the West Virginia native into the Blue Devils’ legendary program. Duke’s entry into the recruitment race instantly raises the stakes, transforming what was once a hopeful pursuit into a full-blown battle against one of college basketball’s blue blood powerhouses.
And Duke isn’t alone. Kentucky, now under the leadership of Mark Pope, is also firmly in the mix after recently hosting Hawthorne on campus. When two of the sport’s most iconic programs are vying for a player, it’s a testament to that player’s elite potential—and Hawthorne checks every box. With size, athleticism, and the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor, he’s exactly the kind of player who can transform a recruiting class.
So far, Virginia Tech’s 2025 class includes promising talents Sin’Cere Jones and Christian Gurdak, along with several portal additions. But landing Hawthorne would be a statement—proof that the Hokies can hang with the giants when it comes to attracting top-tier talent.
The competition is fierce, and the stakes are sky-high. For Virginia Tech, this isn’t just about adding another recruit—it’s about proving they can win battles against the blue bloods. And with Chester Frazier in the mix, the Hokies aren’t backing down.