Coming off a stellar 35-4 campaign that featured a dominant 19-1 run in the ACC, a regular-season conference title, and a Final Four appearance, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer is wasting no time reloading for next season. The Blue Devils’ 2025 recruiting efforts just received a significant boost with news that a four-star small forward has scheduled an official visit to Durham.
Ranked No. 71 in the 2025 class by 247Sports, he brings both size and upside at 6-foot-8 with an impressive 7-foot-2 wingspan. Originally committed to West Virginia last October and signed during the early period in November, he reopened his recruitment in March following the departure of WVU’s coaching staff. Since then, he’s visited Kentucky and Virginia Tech officially, while other major programs like Michigan, Indiana, Marquette, and the newly restructured Mountaineers staff have entered the mix. Indiana’s recent hire of Darian DeVries — who previously coached at WVU — adds another wrinkle to his recruitment.
His visit to Duke is scheduled for this upcoming weekend, according to his father in a report to 247Sports. The timing couldn’t be more crucial for the Blue Devils. With freshman stars Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, and Kon Knueppel all declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft, alongside veteran guards Tyrese Proctor and Sion James, the Blue Devils are staring at a completely revamped lineup heading into next season.
Scheyer and his staff are now focused on replenishing their wing depth, and Braydon Hawthorne fits that need with his versatility on both ends of the court. During his time at Huntington Prep, he averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds per game, showing flashes of scoring prowess and defensive range that make him a coveted prospect.
Bringing Hawthorne to campus gives Duke an opportunity to pitch its elite player development program, exposure through high-profile national TV games, and the historic environment of Cameron Indoor Stadium — where the Blue Devils lost only two games all season. It also emphasizes that despite recent roster turnover, Duke remains a top-tier destination for high-level talent.
Landing Hawthorne would help stabilize Duke’s roster for the 2025–26 campaign and reaffirm that the program continues to be a beacon for elite recruits under Scheyer’s leadership, even in the midst of significant offseason transitions.
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