Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils quietly expanded their recruiting efforts this week, adding another prospect to their radar.
Just days after Cooper Flagg announced his intention to enter the 2025 NBA Draft, Duke reportedly made a visit to check in on four-star forward Braydon Hawthorne.
The 6-foot-8 small forward out of Huntington Prep reopened his recruitment in March after decommitting from West Virginia. He’s currently ranked No. 106 nationally in the 247Sports Composite and holds the top spot in West Virginia’s 2025 class.
Since his decommitment, Hawthorne has also taken visits to Virginia Tech and Kentucky. Now, according to Travis Branham of 247Sports, Scheyer and his staff have made the trip to see Hawthorne in person.
A long-armed wing with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Braydon Hawthorne brings a unique mix of perimeter shooting, rebounding, and high-level chase-down defense—traits that have caught Duke’s attention at just the right time.
Hawthorne’s father confirmed the Blue Devils’ interest on X, marking a pivotal moment in Duke’s offseason plans. With Cooper Flagg officially headed to the 2025 NBA Draft, and both Kon Knueppel—the 2025 ACC Tournament MVP—and Third-team All-ACC selection Tyrese Proctor also declaring, Duke suddenly finds itself with multiple openings on the wing.
While the incoming freshman class already features elite talent in Cameron and Cayden Boozer, along with Nikolas Khamenia, Jon Scheyer has made it clear that he’s still looking to add the right pieces to round out the 2025-26 roster.
The Blue Devils are coming off a standout 2024-25 campaign, finishing 35-4 overall, 19-1 in ACC play, and earning the No. 3 spot in the final AP Top 25. However, their season ended in heartbreak with a narrow 70-67 loss to Houston in the Final Four.
Hawthorne, a versatile small forward who can handle the ball, knock down threes, and guard multiple positions, fits the mold of what Scheyer is seeking as he retools for another deep tournament run.
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