Five-star small forward Anthony Thompson committed to Ohio State on Tuesday, according to On3 Sports’ Joe Tipton’s X post. The Hudson, Ohio, native chose the Buckeyes over Indiana, among other schools.
Thompson is ranked as the eighth-best recruit nationally in the 2026 class, per 247 Sports’ Composite rankings.
The 6-foot-8, 205-pound Thompson made his official visit to Indiana on Sept. 12. On the 3Stripes Select Basketball circuit last summer, he averaged 22 points per game on 53%-shooting from the field, 39% from 3-point range and 88% from the free-throw line.
Thompson is the second-best shooting forward in the country and the best player in Ohio.
According to 247 Sports’ Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein, Thompson has a 7-foot-3 wingspan that allows him to play both small forward and power forward.
“He’s a potent shot-maker who leans back into a high release that is virtually unblockable, allowing him to make threes and pull-ups with very little separation,” Finkelstein wrote mid-July. “While his tough shot-making ability is his best offensive asset, we’re gradually starting to see him put more pressure on the rim.”
Since Indiana landed 2027 guard Chase Branham on Sept. 20, the Hoosiers missed out on two top 30 2026 recruits: five-star point guard Taylen Kinney and four-star power forward Latrell Allmond. Indiana was a finalist for both players, but the former committed to the University of Kansas on Sept. 28 while the latter pledged to Oklahoma State University on Oct. 13.
Thompson now becomes the third as he opted to stay home and attend Ohio State. Prince-Alexander Moody remains the lone recruit in the Hoosiers’ 2026 class.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Nathan Shriberg (@NShriberg and naashri@iu.edu) and columnist Kasey Watkins (@KaseyWatki8773 and kaslwatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
