It’s the middle of football season, but the opening of Ohio State basketball is just around the corner, and the Buckeyes may be in line to land their first five-star recruit in 16 years.
Forward Anthony Thompson will announce his college decision on Monday, October 21. The 6-foot-8 prospect is a senior out of Hudson, Ohio, and plays at Western Reserve Academy. Thompson is ranked as the No. 2 forward in the nation and a No. 8 overall player according to 247Sports composite rankings.
The Ohio native will choose from a list of finalists that includes Ohio State, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, and Texas. The Buckeyes and Hoosiers seem to be the betting favorites as of now, but how quickly NIL money can change a recruit’s mind. Should Thompson choose to head to Columbus, he would be the first consensus five-star to sign with Ohio State since Jared Sullinger in 2010.
5⭐️ Anthony Thompson will announce his college commitment on October 21st, agent Nate Conley of Court XIV tells @Rivals.
The 6-8 small forward is a top-10 recruit in the 2026 class. https://t.co/MnPBiM22UVpic.twitter.com/WnT7HuBKBS
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) October 9, 2025
Currently, the Buckeyes have two four-star commitments in Garfield Heights guard Marcus Johnson, who is the No. 4-rated point guard in the nation, and Alex Smith, an Upper Arlington, Ohio native who is playing for Fort Lauderdale Prolific Prep in Florida.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State basketball hopes to bag first five-star recruit in 16 years
