Houston’s 2027 recruiting class now includes South Jones High School power forward Triston Hawthorne, who is from Ellisville, Mississippi. The 6-foot-7, 190-pound prospect is ranked by 247Sports as Mississippi’s top player. The 247Sports Composite lists him 15th among power forwards and 80th overall in the 2027 class.
Houston’s class has four four-star prospects, and 247Sports currently ranks the group No. 1 nationally. Each player is among the nation’s top 100. Hawthorne joins center Derek Daniels and guards Oneal Delancy and Darrell Davis in the class.
Houston was one of three Power Four programs to offer Hawthorne, along with Ole Miss and Mississippi State. 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 Hawthorne as capable of contributing near the basket on offense and defense. He averaged 10.8 rebounds, 4.0 offensive rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game. His 7-foot-2 wingspan and athleticism support his rebounding and defensive work.
Hawthorne is less developed offensively, but has been effective near the rim and in the dunker’s spot. He takes most of his shots in the paint and makes free throws at about a 60% rate.
