While most of the focus this spring has been on Indiana’s transfer portal recruiting efforts, the Hoosiers could also look to add freshmen to the 2025-26 roster.
With Trent Sisley already in the fold, Darian DeVries has also been in contact with a pair of class of 2025 prospects.
Wing Braydon Hawthorne, who signed with West Virginia last fall, and guard Nyk Lewis, a former Xavier signee, are hearing from the Hoosiers.
The 6-foot-8 Hawthorne is from Beckley, West Virginia, and played at Huntington Prep last season. According to the Huntington Prep Instagram account, Hawthorne is drawing interest from Kentucky, Marquette, Kansas State, Dayton, Indiana, West Virginia and Virginia.
According to On3.com’s Jamie Shaw, Michigan, Arizona State, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State are also in the mix.
A recent post on Hawthorne’s X (formerly Twitter) account shows that he visited Virginia Tech last week. The Hokies recently hired Chester Frazier, who was on the West Virginia coaching staff last season, to join Mike Young’s staff in Blacksburg.
Hawthorne is ranked the 106th best prospect nationally in the senior class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Here is a brief scouting report from Travis Branham at 247Sports:
“The four-star forward has size, tremendous length and a very versatile skillset with a tough and competitive mindset. Despite being roughly 180-pounds, Hawthorne doesn’t back down from anyone, will play physical, battle on the boards, defend multiple positions and offensively he can score on and off the ball, can really pass and put the ball in the hole from all there levels.”
Lewis, a 6-foot-1 point guard from Gonzaga College High School in Washington D.C., reopened his recruitment after Sean Miller left Xavier for Texas.
Considered the No. 50 player nationally by the 247Sports Composite and the No. 7 point guard in the class, Lewis has been in contact with Indiana, according to Sam Kayser.
The 6-foot-1 guard recently took a visit to Vanderbilt, is planning to visit Iowa after the dead period and is also hearing from IU, Seton Hall, VCU and Texas, according to Keyser’s report.
Here is an excerpt from Adam Finkelstein’s scouting report on Lewis from 247Sports:
“Lewis is a lead guard that wants to play fast and get out in transition. He plays with great pace, but can also be shifty changing speeds on his way to the paint. He is in constant attack mode, so he can look like a scoring guard or get himself into tough spots at times, but he’s an underrated overall passer and distributor who averaged 3.9 assists vs. 1.6 turnovers in the recent EYBL season.
“In the half-court, his first-step is best when attacking right off the catch. He’s generally below the rim and can struggle to finish in traffic (42% 2pt FG% in EYBL play), but can also make crafty lay-ups and tough floaters with relatively deep range. His left hand is very good, as both a passer and finisher.”
Category: Recruiting
Filed to: Braydon Hawthorne, Nyk Lewis
