Normally, this is Ohio State football commitment season. The Buckeyes host recruits at the Shoe to try and get a commitment. Jake Diebler likes hosting recruits in the Fall and taking them to the football games, too, as the Ohio State basketball program looks to turn things around.
Diebler is entering his second full season as a head coach after collapsing at the end of last year. With a commitment from Ross Bjork to spend a healthy amount of NIL money, he is looking to build a consistent winner in Columbus. They haven't had one since the heydays of Thad Matta.
One recruit the Ohio State Buckeyes are looking to land to help them achieve that goal is Anthony Thompson. Thompson is a five-star recruit from Hudson, Ohio, so they are hoping they will have the home-state advantage. He has now set a commitment date.
Five-star Ohio State recruiting target sets October commitment date
Thompson has officially set his commitment date for October 21st. He is choosing among the Buckeyes, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Texas, and North Carolina. Adding Thompson would really help the Buckeyes in the 2026 recruiting class to make an immediate splash.
Thompson is a 6'8 small forward who weighs 205 pounds. He does everything well offensively, as he is efficient from the field, the free-throw line, and beyond the 3-point arc. Quite frankly, he could step in and be one of Ohio State's best offensive players in the absence of Bruce Thornton.
At the very least, the Buckeyes would love to not see him go to either of the other Big Ten schools that he has on his list. Having him face off against Ohio State would be something Diebler would not like to see. The Ohio State basketball program needs to get a big win like this.
Adding Thompson would give Ohio State three commitments for the 2026 recruiting class. Thompson would be the highest-ranked of those recruits.