Texas a top team for 5-star CG Bryce Thompson

Shaka Smart and his staff remain in pursuit of their first 2020 pledge, but they’re now one step closer to potentially filling that void with one of the nation’s truly elite talents, as five-star Tulsa (Okla.) Booker T. Washington combo guard Bryce Thompson named the Texas Longhorns in his top seven on Thursday evening, along with Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan State, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma.

Now a top team, Texas will enjoy an immediate opportunity to roll out the burnt orange carpet, as Thompson will begin his official visit with the Longhorns today, per a report from 247Sports’ Evan Daniels. Thompson also has official trips scheduled to North Carolina (Sept. 7), Oklahoma State (Sept. 28), and Michigan State (Oct. 27). Kansas, which has also hosted Thompson for multiple unofficial visits, will do much of the same yet again on Oct. 4.

Thompson, who added a late offer from the Longhorns on April 29, is currently projected to remain close to home and side with the Sooners when decision day arrives, as Oklahoma owns three of his seven Crystal Ball picks. The other four are split between Kansas and Oklahoma State.

So given that Texas not only jumped into the mix a bit late with the rising guard who was ranked No. 63 nationally at the time of his offer, the Horns will have to make the absolute most of their time with Thompson throughout the coming days.

The 6’5 guard is currently ranked as the nation’s No. 18 player overall and as the No. 4 combo guard, per the 247Sports Composite.