BYU Basketball Pursues 5-Star Recruit Anthony Thompson originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
BYU basketball is generating major buzz as it prepares for one of its most anticipated seasons, led by projected superstar AJ Dybantsa, the nation’s top-ranked player who reclassified to the 2025 class.
BYU freshman AJ DybantsaAJ Dybantsa/BYU Athletics
Building on this momentum, BYU is aggressively pursuing elite talent for the future, with five-star small forward Anthony Thompson emerging as a top target. Thompson, a 6’8” standout from Western Reserve Academy in Ohio, recently narrowed his college choices, including BYU among top programs like Kentucky, North Carolina, and Kansas.
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Ranked as the ninth-best player in the nation by On3, Thompson is known for his versatile skillset and has drawn national attention after a strong showing at the Adidas Eurocamp in Italy. He also recently signed a NIL deal with Adidas. Coming off a Sweet 16 appearance last season, their first since 2011, the Cougars have heightened expectations.
With talent like Dybantsa already in place and prospects like Thompson considering Provo, BYU is aiming not just to return to the NCAA Tournament, but to make a legitimate push for a Final Four run. The program is clearly positioning itself for sustained national prominence.
Related: BYU Football Reportedly in Two-Team Race for Top 2026 Quarterback
Related: BYU’s AJ Dybantsa Becomes College Basketball’s Top NIL Earner
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.