Triston Hawthorne committed to the Houston Cougars on Sept. 17, becoming the latest four-star addition to a 2027 recruiting class that 247Sports currently ranks No. 1 nationally. Houston now has four four-star prospects in the class, each listed among the recruiting service’s top 100 players for the cycle.
Hawthorne is a 6-foot-7, 190-pound power forward from South Jones High School. The Ellisville, Mississippi, prospect is rated by 247Sports as the top player in his state, while the 247 Composite lists him as the nation’s No. 15 power forward and No. 80 overall player in the 2027 class.
Houston was one of only three Power Four programs to offer Hawthorne, alongside Ole Miss and Mississippi State. He visited the Cougars on Aug. 20, then made trips to LSU on Sept. 5 and Harvard on Sept. 8.
The profile describes Hawthorne as a strong interior player on both ends of the floor. He averaged 10.8 rebounds and four offensive rebounds per game, along with 4.3 blocks. His 7-foot-2 wingspan and athleticism are expected to support his work as a rebounder and defender.
Hawthorne’s offensive game is still developing, but he has been effective near the basket and in the dunker’s spot. The report says most of his attempts came inside the paint and that he converted free throws at about a 60% rate.
