Four-star power forward Triston Hawthorne committed to Houston's 2027 recruiting class on Sept. 17, giving the Cougars four four-star prospects ranked among the nation's top 100 for that class. 247Sports currently lists Houston's group as the No. 1 class nationally.
Hawthorne is a 6-foot-7, 190-pound prospect from Ellisville, Mississippi, who attended South Jones High School. The 247Sports Composite ranks him 15th among power forwards and 80th overall in the 2027 class. He is also listed as the top overall player in Mississippi by 247Sports.
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 visits to LSU on Sept. 5 and Harvard on Sept. 8.
Hawthorne's production centers on rebounding and defense. He averaged 10.8 rebounds and four offensive rebounds per game, while his 7-foot-2 wingspan and athleticism contribute to his work around the basket. He also averaged 4.3 blocks per game.
Offensively, Hawthorne remains a developing prospect, but he has been effective near the rim and in the dunker's spot. Most of his attempts came inside the paint, and he has made about 60% of his free throws. The source said he could add muscle after arriving at Houston, though the timing and extent of that development are not yet clear.
