Houston’s 2027 recruiting class now includes Triston Hawthorne, a four-star power forward from South Jones High School in Ellisville, Mississippi. The commitment was reported Sept. 17, giving the Cougars four four-star prospects in the cycle. 247Sports ranks all four among the nation’s top 100 players and lists Houston’s class as No. 1 nationally.
Hawthorne is listed at 6 feet 7 inches and 190 pounds. He is ranked as Mississippi’s top player by 247Sports, while the 247Sports Composite places him 15th among power forwards and 80th overall in the 2027 class. Houston, Ole Miss and Mississippi State were the three Power Four programs to offer him.
He visited Houston on Aug. 20, followed by trips to LSU on Sept. 5 and Harvard on Sept. 8.
The report describes Hawthorne as an inside contributor on offense and defense. He averaged 10.8 rebounds, 4.0 offensive rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game, with a 7-foot-2 wingspan. His offense is less developed, but he has been effective near the rim and in the dunker’s spot.
He takes most of his shots in the paint and makes about 60% of his free throws. Hawthorne joins center Derek Daniels and guards Oneal Delancy and Darrell Davis in Houston’s class. Maanav Gupta wrote the report for SI.com.
