Anthony Thompson’s first public moment in an Ohio State uniform will come with a homecoming twist.
The prized freshman forward is set to debut for the Buckeyes on Wednesday in the CareSource Invitational, an outdoor exhibition doubleheader at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. That puts him just a short hop from Lebanon, his hometown - Mason is one exit south on Interstate-71.
Ohio State opens against Cincinnati at 3 p.m., followed by Xavier against Dayton at 5:30 p.m.
For the Buckeyes, Thompson is the main attraction. The 6-9, 223-pound forward arrives with serious buzz after being named a McDonald’s All-American and ranked No. 7 overall in the 2026 class by 247Sports. He is Ohio State’s highest-ranked recruit since Jared Sullinger in the 2010 class, and the top-rated recruit across the Big Ten’s 18 schools.
The attention hasn’t stopped there. On Monday, a media panel voted Thompson the preseason Big Ten freshman of the year, and several 2027 NBA mock drafts already project him as a first-round pick. ESPN.com’s projection has him at No. 9 overall.
He should slide into the small forward role for Ohio State, lining up with returning starters John Mobley Jr. at guard and Amare Bynum at power forward. The other starting spots could go to Cal transfer Justin Pippen at guard and either Josh Ojianwuna or Ivan Njegovan at center.
Thompson’s path back near home has been a winding one. He spent his first two high school seasons at Lebanon before moving to Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, for his final two years.
His production at Western Reserve spoke loudly. In 2025-26, he averaged 24.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 47 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range.
He also turned heads with Indiana Elite in the Adidas 3SSB during the spring and summer of 2025, putting up 22.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.6 steals per game.
As a junior at Western Reserve, Thompson averaged 21.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals while helping the Pioneers finish 24-11.
Asked about making his college debut so close to where he grew up, Thompson said, "I think it's pretty cool," Thompson said. "I'm like 25 minutes away from Cincinnati. So I think being able to play down there close to home against Cincinnati, I think it'll be pretty cool.
"I think it'll be a lot of learning. As we play exhibitions and get closer to real games, I think it'll just be a lot of learning and growing and adjusting until it's really time for it."
In Other News...
Urban Meyer Just Gave Ohio State Fans A New Indiana Debate
Indiana has become one of the more interesting talking points around Ohio States schedule, not just because Curt Cignettis team is off to a 5-0 start and sitting No. 7, but because of how quickly it has climbed into the national conversation. The Hoosiers have clearly made real progress over two seasons, and their rise has forced people around the sport to decide how much credit to give a program that has beaten the teams in front of it while still waiting for the kind of week-to-week grind that defines the Big Ten.
Urban Meyer helped stir that debate by casting doubt on how fully Indianas record should be judged, arguing that games against weaker opponents should not carry the same weight in the evaluation. For Ohio State fans, it is the kind of conversation that always circles back to the same place: whether Indiana is a legitimate threat in the league race, or simply a team whose rsum still needs a bigger test to prove it against the Buckeyes and the rest of the conference elite. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Proved Its National Pull Is Still Different
Ohio States 31-14 win over Iowa was the kind of showcase the program still seems to command without much effort. Even with multiple top-25 games filling the same weekend slate, the Buckeyes trip to CBS pulled the largest audience in college football, a reminder that when Ohio State is in a prominent window, people still tune in.
Jeremiah Smith helped make the afternoon feel even bigger, turning in a huge receiving performance with 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns. It was the latest sign that Ohio States national draw is about more than brand recognition alone, with a receiver already giving the offense the kind of weekly spotlight that tends to travel well beyond Columbus. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Homecoming Could Shape A Huge Recruiting Battle
Ohio States homecoming week is bringing more than just the usual buzz around Saturdays game with Maryland. Fresh off a win over Iowa, the Buckeyes are also setting the stage for a major recruiting weekend, with several top 2028 prospects expected on campus as the program keeps pushing to build out a class that already has five verbal commits.
The headliners in the group are five-star defensive linemen Jamarcus Johnson and Kellan Hall, both among the nations most coveted young players and already drawing multiple scholarship offers. For Ohio State, the chance to host that kind of talent during a home game weekend is a reminder that the battle for future recruiting classes starts well before Signing Day, and this one could become a significant early test of how strong the Buckeyes pull really is. [Read more 🡒]