It was a pretty eventful week for recruiting around the Big Ten. A few prospects included some of the league’s programs among their finalists while others announced their commitments.
Here’s what you need to know to get up to speed:
5-star Anthony Thompson picks Ohio State over Indiana
Jake Diebler landed a signature recruiting win ahead of a big 2025-26 season in Columbus when Anthony Thompson, a 5-star small forward out of Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, picked Ohio State over a slew of programs including Big Ten rival Indiana.
Thompson is the
type of prospect that generated offers from the sport’s upper echelon with the likes of Kentucky and North Carolina in on his recruitment at some level. Ultimately the Buckeyes were able to keep a talented prospect in the state, a substantial boost to Diebler’s tenure.
4-star 7-foot Ratliff twins pick USC
Diebler wasn’t the only coach to land a signature recruiting win this week. USC’s Eric Musselman landed two in one go, with 7-foot 4-star twins Darius and Adonis Ratliff picking the Trojans over offers from the likes of Alabama, Arkansas and Texas.
Musselman and the rest of the USC staff celebrated the news together, as seen in a video the coach posted on Twitter:
Indiana makes Top-3 for 2026 4-star small forward Vaughn Karvala
The Hoosiers might’ve lost out on Thompson’s commitment earlier in the week, but it wasn’t all bad news in Bloomington. Vaughn Karvala, a 4-star small forward in the class of 2026, included Indiana in his top three programs alongside Xavier and Cal.
Thompson is obviously an incredible prospect capable of changing the fortune of whichever team lands him, but getting Karvala would be a more than suitable consolation for the Hoosiers. He’s set to announce his commitment on November 1.
Maryland in top-4 for 2026 3-star power forward Asher Elson
There’s more good news for another first year coach in the conference in Maryland’s Buzz Williams. The Terrapins are among the final four programs under consideration by Asher Elson, a 4-star power forward in the class of 2026 out of Overtime Elite.
Maryland has some decently strong competition here with Syracuse, Xavier and Auburn also listed.
