IU basketball recruiting: 2026 top-20 wing Anthony Thompson on IU and his development

Ohio-based rising junior forward Anthony Thompson is a near prototype for the modern game.

At around 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-2.5 wingspan, he’s impossible to miss on the perimeter.

Already a good shooter with three-level scoring ability, it’s clear why the Lebanon, Ohio product is a national top-20 prospect in the 2026 class according to the On3 Industry Average. College coaches tell him they love his positional size at small forward, a spot on the floor where he looks natural.

But when you watch Thompson, it also seems clear he’s only just beginning to tap into his vast potential. Recognizing that, he announced a transfer to Western Reserve Academy, more than three hours away from home in Northeastern Ohio.

“I want to build a lot of skill, and just get a lot better before college,” Thompson told The Daily Hoosier of the transfer prior to his junior year. “I want to use it as a tool to get ready and prepare for college so that by the time I get there I’ll be ready for all aspects of my game.”

That seems like the right move for a young player with all of the raw physical tools to be a star. Thompson averaged 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.3 steals as a sophomore for Lebanon. And he doesn’t turn 16 until August.

Indiana was involved early in Thompson’s recruitment. They offered in February after his visited for the Northwestern game. He says he talks to several members of the Indiana staff on a regular basis, and he’s already been to the IU campus on multiple occasions, including an unofficial visit last month.

“It’s a great basketball school. I was just able to build a better relationship with the coaches, look at the facilities and just get an overall feel of what it’s all about,” Thompson told TDH of his June Indiana visit.

“They (the IU coaches) like my versatility, all aspects of my game. My length. My potential to continue to just get better by the time I get to college, build strength and more skill to be able to fit into their offense and defense.”

Mike Woodson and multiple members of the Indiana staff watched Thompson and his 2026 Indiana Elite squad play on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit this summer, including at the Championships in Rock Hill, S.C. a couple weeks ago.

Thompson is in discovery mode right now, looking to learn more about each program and build relationships with the coaches. He says all of the schools that have offered him to this point are the main ones he hears from on a regular basis. In addition to IU, he named Texas, Ohio State, West Virginia, Missouri, and Penn State as some of those main schools.

Although he’s a year out from really starting to narrow down his recruitment, Thompson has some thoughts on what factors will influence his college decision.

“Probably just my development as a player,” he told TDH. “Who can help me get to the next level, get better in all aspects of my game, and a place where I can go and win, and have great relationships with the coaches.”