Utah has its first piece for the 2028 recruiting class, and it comes in the form of a versatile guard with some unusual international experience.
Harvard-Westlake’s Pierce Thompson committed to the Utes on September 23, 2026, giving Alex Jensen’s program a 6-foot-4 combo guard who brings perimeter scoring and the ability to handle different offensive roles. Thompson announced the decision on social media with: “#committed ❤️🤍”
Thompson’s recruitment stretched well beyond Salt Lake City. Mississippi State, Cal, Loyola Chicago, St. Bonaventure, Yale and Harvard were all part of the mix before he chose Utah.
The numbers on the recruiting services reflect that rising profile. Thompson is ranked No. 236 nationally, No. 38 among shooting guards and No. 23 in California in the 247Sports Composite. Rivals’ Industry ranking has him at No. 197 nationally and No. 16 in California, while listing him as the nation’s No. 38 point guard.
What makes Thompson stand out is that his résumé isn’t limited to Southern California prep basketball. He also took on a leading role for Austria’s U18 national team at this summer’s FIBA U18 EuroBasket, where he paced Austria with 14.4 points per game. He finished 13th among the tournament’s scorers and logged 29.1 minutes per game across seven contests.
That tournament run showed both his workload and his production. Thompson played in seven games, scored in double figures in six of them, and got a taste of what it means to carry a heavy scoring load against international competition.
At Harvard-Westlake, his rise has been steady rather than sudden. Defense and 3-point shooting helped him earn more minutes and a larger role in the offense, and as his responsibilities grew, so did the attention from recruiters. Utah is getting a player whose appeal goes beyond simply making shots.
Thompson looks like a natural fit next to a primary ballhandler. He can stretch the floor, give a team a catch-and-shoot threat and function without needing an offense built around him. That kind of profile matters for a young guard trying to carve out a college role.
He also has some next-level growth areas. When defenders close hard on his jumper, Thompson can attack the gap and get into the lane. The key will be sharpening those reads - knowing when to finish, when to pull up and when to move the ball on to a teammate.
There’s also value in how he moves without the ball. Thompson has shown an instinct for cutting into open space and finding windows within the flow of the offense. Those off-ball actions can punish a defense that gets too locked in on the ball.
For Utah, that mix of shooting, movement and adaptability gives the Utes a foundation to work with. Thompson can help create spacing, benefit from the advantages others create and keep possessions flowing. As his strength, efficiency and self-creation continue to develop, Utah can see how much bigger his role can become.
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