Houston secured a commitment from South Jones High School power forward Triston Hawthorne on Sept. 17. The Ellisville, Mississippi, prospect is one of four four-star players in the Cougars’ 2027 class, with all four ranked among the nation’s top 100 by 247Sports. The service currently rates Houston’s class No. 1 nationally.
Hawthorne measures 6 feet 7 inches and weighs 190 pounds. He is 247Sports’ highest-ranked player in Mississippi, while the 247Sports Composite places him No. 15 among power forwards and No. 80 overall in the 2027 group. Houston, Ole Miss and Mississippi State were the three Power Four programs that offered him.
He visited Houston on Aug. 20, followed by visits to LSU on Sept. 5 and Harvard on Sept. 8.
A report by Maanav Gupta for si.com describes Hawthorne as a potential contributor near the basket on offense and defense. He averaged 10.8 rebounds, including 4.0 offensive boards, and 4.3 blocks per game. His athleticism and 7-foot-2 wingspan could aid his rebounding and defensive work.
Offensively, he remains less developed but has produced near the rim and from the dunker’s spot. Most of his attempts come in the paint, and he makes about 60% of his free throws. Houston’s class also includes Derek Daniels, Oneal Delancy and Darrell Davis.
