Houston added Triston Hawthorne to its 2027 recruiting class on Sept. 17, giving the Cougars four four-star prospects. All four are ranked in the nation’s top 100 by 247Sports, which currently places Houston’s class first nationally. Hawthorne joins center Derek Daniels and guards Oneal Delancy and Darrell Davis in the group.
Hawthorne attends South Jones High School and is from Ellisville, Mississippi. He measures 6 feet 7 inches and 190 pounds. 247Sports lists him as Mississippi’s top player, while its Composite ranking puts him No. 15 among power forwards and No. 80 overall in the 2027 class.
Houston, Ole Miss and Mississippi State were the three Power Four programs to offer Hawthorne. He visited Houston on Aug. 20, followed by trips to LSU on Sept. 5 and Harvard on Sept. 8. A report by Maanav Gupta for SI.com describes him as a player who can help near the basket offensively and defensively.
He averaged 10.8 rebounds, including 4.0 offensive rebounds, and 4.3 blocks per game. His 7-foot-2 wingspan and athleticism aid his rebounding and defense. He has been productive near the rim and from the dunker’s spot, takes most attempts in the paint and makes roughly 60% of his free throws, though his offensive game remains less developed.
