No. 13 hoops recruit Anthony Thompson commits to Ohio State - ESPN

Five-star senior Anthony Thompson has committed to Ohio State, becoming the Buckeyes' highest-ranked men's basketball recruit in more than a decade.

Thompson chose the Buckeyes over Indiana, giving Jake Diebler a massive recruiting win over Big Ten foes. Texas was heavily in the mix, while Michigan, Kentucky and North Carolina also received visits.

«My relationship with the coaching staff was different. They recruited me hard and consistently made me a priority,» Thompson told ESPN. «Coach Diebler really cares about all his players. He is on the court working with his players during individual workouts. He was very consistent in his communication and recruitment of me. I know I can rely on him to help me. I watched the team practice. They had great energy and buy-in.»

Given his lofty ranking and the expectations that will come with him when he arrives in Columbus, being in college for just a few months is a possibility, but Thompson is willing to be patient, and Diebler showed him a development plan.

«I am going there with the intention of improving and winning and making it to the NBA, however long it takes,» Thompson said. «I am not focused on being one-and-done. If it happens, that is great.

»Their plan is to help me become the best player I can be and prepare me for the NBA. They see me as a versatile shooter and can defend different positions. They showed me how I would fit on both ends of the floor."

A 6-foot-8 left-handed forward who plays at Western Reserve Academy (Ohio), Thompson is ranked No. 13 in the SC Next 100 — the top-ranked player in the Midwest.

The combination of his shooting — Thompson has high-level touch from anywhere on the floor — and his body control with a 7-4¼ wingspan makes him likely to be