The recruiting trail is heating up in Blacksburg as Virginia Tech prepares to welcome one of the nation’s top high school basketball prospects. On Friday, four-star small forward Braydon Hawthorne will make an official visit to the Hokies — a development that could have major implications for the program’s future under head coach Mike Young.
Hawthorne, a versatile 6-foot-8 standout, is widely regarded as West Virginia’s top-ranked high school player by both ESPN and 247 Sports. Nationally, he sits at No. 81 in ESPN’s Top 100 and No. 71 on 247 Sports’ composite rankings. Among small forwards, he’s ranked No. 16 by 247 Sports and No. 23 by ESPN, underscoring his value as a premier talent in the 2025 class.
What makes this visit especially intriguing is Hawthorne’s prior commitment to West Virginia, a pledge he backed out of after a wave of coaching changes hit the Mountaineers’ program. Among those departures was assistant coach Chester Frazier, who played a pivotal role in Hawthorne’s recruitment. Frazier has since rejoined Virginia Tech’s coaching staff, setting the stage for a possible reunion in Blacksburg.
Frazier’s return isn’t the only connection drawing Hawthorne to Virginia Tech. Power forward Amani Hansberry, who led West Virginia in rebounding last season, also transferred to the Hokies after Frazier’s exit from Morgantown. The parallels between Hansberry’s and Hawthorne’s situations are striking — both impacted by the same coaching shake-up, both now linked to the rebuilding efforts at Virginia Tech.
Despite the Hokies’ strong ties to Hawthorne, they face stiff competition. The elite forward is being courted by a host of powerhouse programs, including Kentucky — where he visited earlier this week — as well as Indiana, Michigan, and Marquette, all of which made NCAA Tournament appearances this past season.
Still, Virginia Tech stands out as the only ACC program outside of in-state rival Virginia making a serious push for Hawthorne. If the Hokies land the coveted recruit, it would mark their biggest high school acquisition since Landers Nolley in 2018, according to 247 Sports.
With Hawthorne’s visit set for Friday, the Hokies have a golden opportunity to make a lasting impression and potentially secure a game-changing addition to their 2025 recruiting class.