5. Reach - Anthony Thompson
Louisville basketball has already learned some good news from the 5-star small forward, as Anthony Thompson cut his offer list in half and put out a rare top 15. The Cardinals made the first cut and are in a recruiting battle against Kentucky, North Carolina, Texas, BYU, Notre Dame, Kansas, and other big-time programs.
The 6-foot-8, 185-pound small forward is ranked as high as No. 9 in the country, No. 3 in a small forward position, and the best player out of Ohio, per 247Sports. The Cardinals have been trending with Thompson for many reasons. One, of course, is making his top 15, but the other reason is that the 5-star recruit recently signed with Adidas.
Now, just because Thompson signed with Adidas doesn't mean he has to play with a school with an Adidas sponsor. However, it is a small step in the right direction, and it would make logical sense if he leaned toward a program like Louisville, which Adidas sponsors.
The 5-star player plays his high school basketball for Western Reserve, averaging 22.0 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 43.0 percent from beyond the arc. Thompson's ability to score and rebound at such a high rate is one of the reasons Louisville fell in love with him.
During his sophomore season, he averaged 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.8 blocked shots per game while shooting 51.0 percent from the field and 32.0 percent from beyond the arc. He scored 10 points or more in 20 of his 24 games, including seven games in which he reached 20 points or more.
The Cardinals have a significant opportunity to land Thompson's commitment. He reportedly stated that he wants to cut his list to eight or 10 teams in the coming weeks and plans to announce his commitment in October or November.
Related: Louisville basketball making a push for elite 5-star wing in 2026 recruiting battle