While most of the focus on recruiting currently sits on the gridiron, Jake Diebler and the Ohio State basketball team are working to put together a solid class for the 2026 season. The Buckeyes got a bit of good news recently when one of the top players in the nation added OSU to his final seven.
Five-star prospect Anthony Thompson is the No. 8-ranked player nationally and the No. 2 small forward in the class according to 247Sports composite rankings. His top seven are a who’s who of college basketball that includes Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Purdue, Texas, and, of course, Ohio State.
Does Diebler and the Buckeyes have a real shot at Thompson? Well, the 6-foot-7 prospect is an Ohio Native hailing from Hudson, Ohio, where he attends Western Reserve Academy. With the majority of his short list being within a few hours of home, it seems the young man may prefer to stay close, which could bode well for the Scarlet and Gray.
Currently, Ohio State has two verbal pledges for the 2026 class. One is the No. 3 point guard in the land, Marcus Johnson. The other is power forward Alex Smith. Both are four-star prospects and have the Buckeyes’ class ranked as the No. 2 class overall.