From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthink highly of somebody/somethingthink highly of somebody/something (also think a lot of somebody/something)ADMIRE to admire or respect someone or something Your boss must think highly of you if she gives you so much responsibility. → think
Examples from the Corpus
think highly of somebody/something• Most of the women were college graduates, thought highly of Smith, and were pleased that this stranger was so smart. 