By ADAM ZAGORIA
Five-star wing Tyran Stokes is headed to Kansas, he announced Tuesday on ESPN.
The 6-foot-7 Stokes, the No. 1-ranked recruit in the Class of 2026 and the potential No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, chose Bill Self and the Jayhawks over Mark Pope and Kentucky. Stokes is signed with Nike, while Kansas is an adidas school.
“Rock Chalk,” he said on ESPN after handing out his Panini trading cards to Kenny Smith,Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Johnson.
Stokes averaged 22.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists last summer on the Nike EYBL circuit for the Oakland Soldiers.
“Yesterday was a big day for our program, landing the consensus number one player in the 2026 class,” head coach Bill Self said Wednesday. “Tyran is as versatile a youngster that I’ve ever recruited. He can score and he’s a terrific rebounder. He’s powerful and can be a great facilitator, and maybe what he does best is pass the basketball. He’s had far more exposure to basketball than most kids his age and will come in here with the ability to live up to the lofty expectations that will be placed on him by others.
“Coach (Kurtis) Townsend, once again, did a tremendous job in being the point in recruiting Tyran. We look forward to welcoming him and his mother into our Kansas basketball family.”
Stokes a 6-foot-7, 230-pound wing, played last season at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle. In 2025-26, the Louisville, Kentucky, native averaged 31.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 4.0 steals in leading Rainier Beach to a 29-1 record and the Washington 3A state title. In the state quarterfinals, Stokes recorded a triple-double with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in the win against Seattle O’Dea. In the title game he had 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the win against Tacoma Lincoln. Earlier in the season, Stokes scored a career-high 63 points against West Seattle.
Stokes was selected for the 2026 McDonald’s All-American game, alongside future teammate Taylen Kinney. Stokes led all players with nine rebounds to go along with 12 points, three assists, and two blocked shots. A week later, Stokes, a Naismith All-America and MaxPreps All-America first team selection, was named the most valuable player at the Jordan Brand Classic where he scored 29 points with eight rebounds, seven assists and three blocked shots for Team Air Boys.
In addition to his outstanding high school career, Stokes has won three gold medals playing for USA Basketball – in 2023 the FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Mexico; in 2024 the FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey; and in 2025 the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland.
ESPN analyst Cory Alexander said that he believes Stokes is more offensively skilled at this stage of his career than some NBA All-Stars were during their high school days.
“I believe at this stage alone that Tyran is more offensively skilled than Scottie Barnes was at this time,” Alexander said recently on air. “I believe that he is very similar to Cade [Cunningham]…When you look at Tyran…he’s going to be a point at the highest level.”
Kansas asst Kurtis Townsend was in this week to see Tyran Stokes' 1st home game at Rainier Beach High School, source confirms
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) December 11, 2025
First by @JoeTipton https://t.co/d5giKw8iJg
Stokes joins five-star point guard Tay Kinney, four-star shooting guard Luke Barnett, four-star small forward Trent Perry and four-star center Davion Adkins in a loaded recruiting class.
Kansas also brings in College of Charleston transfer center Christian Reaves, Toledo transfer guard Leroy Blyden Jr. and Utah transfer forward Keanu Dawes.
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