11/11/2026 12:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Star forward will compete as freshman beginning in 2027-28
HOUSTON – The University of Houston Men's Basketball program will welcome Triston Hawthorne in 2027-28 after the star forward signed a scholarship agreement, Head Coach Kelvin Sampson announced Wednesday.Measuring 6-foot-7 and weighing 190 points, Hawthorne will have five years of eligibility.
"Triston is going to be a good player. He is a little bit under-sized in weight, but he is extremely athletic and has long arms. He fits us," Sampson said. "He is a very smart young man and has a high understanding of the game. Triston is a tremendous shot blocker, and we are excited to develop him."
Hawthorne – whose name is pronounced Triss-Ton Haw-Thorn – was a consensus 4-star player by recruiting organizations. He was listed as the #18 power forward and #90 recruit nationally by 247Sports and came in as the #12 power forward and #89 prospect in the country by On3. Hawthorne was listed as the #1 player in the state of Mississippi and ranked #92 in the SCNEXT100.
As a junior in 2025-26, Hawthorne competed at the NBAPA Top 100 Camp and was selected as a MAC North/South All-Star for South Jones High School. Averaging 10.5 points, 12.0 rebounds and 6.2 blocks per game, he earned a place on the Mississippi Large Class All-State First Team and posted 22 consecutive games with multiple blocks.
Hawthorne was just an impressive in the classroom where he maintained a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average and was named Student of the Month by the Sertoma Club.
Hawthorne selected Houston over LSU, Harvard, Mississippi State and Mississippi.
"Triston impacts winning at a high level and is an elite shot blocker. He is a high-energy, high-motor guy," Sipp United Director Thandi Wade said. "He is a fun kid with high character and a lot of energy. Triston is just an amazing young man."
Hawthorne was the third student-athlete from the Class of 2027 to sign with Houston on Wednesday. He joined SPIRE Academy point guard Darrell Davis and Montverde Academy guard Oneal Delancy.
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UP NEXT
• Houston returns to Fertitta Center to play host to Jacksonville State at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 11. That game can be seen on ESPN+.
• From there, the Cougars hit the road again to compete at the Players Era 8 Championship inside Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 17-19.
• Houston opens that event at 1 p.m. (CST), Tuesday, Nov. 17, against Rutgers before facing the winner/loser from Florida/Notre Dame on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
• Houston's final-day opponent will come from Auburn/West Virginia/Kansas/UNLV and be played at a time to be determined on Thursday, Nov. 19.
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