One of the nation’s premier high school basketball prospects has set his decision date, and Kentucky is still in the mix — at least for now.
A high-stakes decision
According to On3’s Joe Tipton, Anthony Thompson, a five-star small forward from Ohio, will announce his college commitment on Tuesday, October 21. Thompson is ranked No. 8 nationally and the No. 2 small forward in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports, boasting a remarkable 0.9974 composite rating. His final six schools are Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio State, Texas, Michigan, and North Carolina.
As of now, the Wildcats appear to be a longshot. Most recruiting insiders view Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio State as the frontrunners, but Kentucky can never be counted out, especially with Mark Pope and his staff working to elevate the program’s already elite recruiting prowess.
What the experts are saying
“Physically, he’s grown to 6-foot-8 with shoes on and has a massive 7-foot-3 wingspan,” said Adam Finkelstein, 247Sports director of scouting. “That overlap of length and shot-making is rare, especially at this early stage. Thompson is also young for his grade.”
Thompson just turning 18 in August, has shown poise and polish beyond his years. His combination of three-level scoring and defensive versatility makes him one of the most complete forwards in high school basketball. His long arms and smooth shooting stroke remind some evaluators of a young Paul George.
A defining moment for Mark Pope
Kentucky has all the tools needed to land an elite recruiting class. This will be the first in a long line of commitment ceremonies where Kentucky will be involved in the final 5. While they are not expected to be the ultimate destination for Thompson, they are not totally out of it yet.
When the dust settles on October 21, Big Blue Nation will find out if Pope’s first full recruiting cycle can land a cornerstone piece or will that search continue.
Or will Kentucky have the top commit in the whole country before this date even rolls around?
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion