Before he’s even stepped on the court at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio State freshman Anthony Thompson is already garnering lottery-level NBA attention.
ESPN NBA draft analyst Jeremy Woo released his early 2027 NBA mock draft on Thursday, projecting the former five-star recruit Thompson as the No. 9 overall pick to the Washington Wizards. The mock draft order was based on DraftKings Sportsbook’s odds to win the 2027 NBA championship.
“Thompson is an excellent shooter with great size and length who can man either forward spot, fitting a valuable long-term NBA mold,” Woo’s analysis read. “Scouts want to see greater consistency and improved motor — he missed the cut at Team USA’s U18 trials in May — but the demand for shooters with size keeps him front of mind as a player to watch in the fall.
“Thompson is a good defensive playmaker who can cover ground and block shots with his length and anticipation. He’s a bit stiff in his hips, limiting his ability to put the ball on the floor and create for himself. What type of season he puts together at Ohio State will dictate how high he can rise.”
Thompson comes to Ohio State out of Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, and was ranked as the No. 8 overall prospect, the No. 3 small forward, and the No. 1 recruit in the state of Ohio, according to 247Sports Composite.
The 6-8, 205-pound freshman was Ohio State’s first five-star recruit since landing guard D’Angelo Russell in 2014.
With a first-round selection, Thompson would become the Buckeyes ‘ most recent first-round pick since guard Brice Sensabaugh was selected No. 28 overall in the first round by the Utah Jazz.
If Thompson was selected No. 9 overall in 2027, he would also become the first Buckeye selected in the lottery since Russell was picked No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025.
