Tyran Stokes made his first visit to a college basketball practice facility three years ago when he went to UK when his team played at Mercer County.
Kentucky might not be the favorite but at least the Cats are still alive in the Tyran Stokes sweepstakes.
The nation’s top-ranked high school player says he will visit Kentucky this week.
“I think I will be going to Kentucky sometime this next coming week, I would say, anytime after Hoop Summit,” Stokes told Krysten Peek of NBA.com and HoopsHQ during an interview at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore. “Be on the lookout for that.
‘It’s a different coaching staff since the last time I was on campus, so just being able to go out there and talk to them and see what their plan is for me. Just going out there to see what they’re talking about.’
What the plan is would be for Stokes to become UK coach Mark Pope’s highest ranked recruit and go-to player for the 2026-27 roster. What they are talking about is paying Stokes whatever it takes to persuade him to pick UK over Kansas — and it is going to take a lot of Big Blue bucks.
Stokes had a connection with former UK coach Jason Hart, who recently left the staff. However, he also has a relationship with new UK assistant Mo Williams. Kentucky is also recruiting at least one player in the transfer portal with connections to Stokes.
I asked Peek, who has recruiting connections nationwide, what message she would have for UK fans after talking with Stokes before Saturday night’s Nike Hoop Summit.
“Tell Kentucky fans that this visit is one of clarity (for Stokes). He has no idea where he’s going,” Peek said.
Stokes lived in Louisville until he was 9 years old. He says he “kind of grew up a Louisville fan” but then switched to North Carolina. He played in a Grind Session event in Harrodsburg when he was a 15-year-old freshman at Prolific Prep (Calif.) and considered the nation’s No. 1 freshman.
He got his first look at a major college practice facility when his team practiced twice at the Joe Craft Center. He already has scholarship offers from Alabama, LSU, Louisville, Xavier, Texas A&M, Arizona State, IUPUI and Jackson State midway of his freshman year and Kentucky coach John Calipari had already seen him play.
Stokes also went to a UK game in Rupp Arena while he was in Kentucky for the Grind Session event.
“The only college games I had been to were Louisville games. I had never been to another one. This was my second college game. I went to see Louisville’s boys and girls when I was younger but I had never been to any other school to see a game until now,” Stokes told me three years ago.
“I love to play basketball. If I am not playing basketball, I am either asleep or in school.”
He played both football and baseball when he was younger. He started football at age 5 in Louisville and his second season his team went 13-0. However, he loved basketball more.
Stokes told me then he had always played against players two years older than him to challenge himself.
“If the game is fast, I got to be faster. If the game is slow, I got to play fast,” Stokes said three years ago. “I just never want to slow down. I want to be that energy guy every game.”
11 Responses
I live in Louisville and I'm from Louisville. My ex KeKe Stokes says he is her nephew but I haven't be able to confirm or deny that. I think he's had so many coaches talk to him and bash other coaches for almost 4 years. Most people get recruited for 1-2 years. He has been recruited since basically his 8th-9th grade year. I believe players like Stokes gets tired or hearing a recruiting pitch. Whoever he signs with they are getting a NBA ready 3. He will be the leading scorer and star of the team wherever he goes. I hope he goes to Kentucky but I just don't think he will ultimately choose Kentucky. I think if we had Cal he would have already signed. Because Cals track record speaks for itself. If you didnt grow up a Kentucky fan and Kentucky offers you people think that kids should be excited and sign instantly,but what has Pope ever done to deserve a player of his caliber?? I'll wait….. If you are the best high school basketball player in America wouod you sign with Mark Pope? Here I'll be honest for you. I wouldn't. The reasoning? Do you think Pope will bring a team in that can compete for a national championship next year?? I'm here to tell you Mark Pope will never sniff the final 4 which means we will never be a title contender under his watch. If Stokes does pick Kentucky I'll be the happiest guy in the world. I just dont see it happening. I could be wrong it just seems like the best players don't want to play for Pope. He's recruited 19 top 10 players the last 3 years. Guess how many he's signed?? 66% of the recruits he's had sign since becoming the head coach are guys from Kentucky
Which tells me he can only recruit the state which also tells me these kids grew up Kentucky fans that's the only reason they came to Kentucky. He lost Perry in the first cycle now he's losing JJ a player he chased down for years. How did he not evaluate JJ better? Yes he played out of position but playing out of position doesn't mean you dribble the ball off your foot and get it ripped out of your hands constantly. I knew JJ was a bust. He will be a good college basketball player but that won't be until his junior year. His junior and senior years he might lead his team in scoring but that is about all he can do is score. Stokes is the all around #1 recruit in high school basketball and it's not even close. He's a guy that only walks through the doors maybe one of his caliber every 10 years. He reminds me of Michael Kidd Gilchrist but he's much more polished on offense than Kidd Gilchrist. He will be a much better NBA player than Kidd Gilchrist. Good look T. Stokes wherever you go!! Do you have a aunt named KeKe who lives in the west end?
So you interviewed him Larry? I've heard he's a great kid. Everyone thinks he's stuck up or something but that's not the case. He doesn't like the limelight as much as everyone thinks he does. He also gets tired of people saying where he's going to go when he hasn't said a word about it. How do other people know but he doesn't? It shows they are lying for clickbait.
Stokes has already said he is going to be one and done. He wants to go to a team that will build their offense around him…showcase him for the NBA. He wants to be the tail that wags the dog. I don't see Bill Self going for that, nor Mark Few. Danny Sprinkle at Washington and Pope at Kentucky are more likely to cave in to Stokes' demands. Stokes also stated that he wanted $6 million to come to Kentucky. I don't think Sprinkle has that kind of budget and Pope should be fired immediately if he agrees to that figure. Sure, the kid is the No.1 ranked high school player, but he has never played a minute of college ball. Unless he goes to a mid major the rest of the team will be jealous of all the special attention that Stokes will get. Pope would be better off letting him go elsewhere and focus on building a team that will play as a team. Moreno more than likely will get recruited over. There are plenty of centers in the portal that are far more talented and physically developed than he is. Will Moreno be willing to play as a backup to improve his body and his game and be a star in 2027/28? Williams and Noah play the three, but there are kids who are better than they are at the 3 spot in this year's portal. Pope get's one more year to get it right. He needs to be the coach…be the boss…lay down the law…and dismiss any kid who refuses to get in line. Robert Wright, Juke Harris, David Punch, Allen Graves, and Mustapha Thiam would be a strong starting 5. Moreno, Potter, Williams, Noah, Hawthorne, and the other Williams kid would be serviceable backups, but the starters would play 30+ minutes every game. The 7'9" Rioux kid could be game changing if the right coach were found to develop him.
UL just picked up Bidunga #1 in Portal and also the #17 in the Portal while Pope continues to languish O-fer in the Portal. Kelsey has a 2 yr record of 51-19. I wonder how Pope's stack up? Is Little Brother now residing in Lexington in both major sports?
I've said for 2 years I would rather have Kelsey than Pope. It's not even close. Kelsey bring the energy and so does his players. Pope looks lost and so does his players.
Pope is betting his career on Stokes and is waiting to see how much getting him will cost. Then he will build the team around Stokes…if he gets him. If not, Pope doesn't have a clue about what to do.
Surprise Trent Noah is coming back and it could be a blessing .
Yes. Williams and Noah play the 3 and can be knock down shooters from the arc. Pope needs to run his offense in to the post and force double teams to come to Moreno. Kicking out to the 3 spot for an open 3 could be effective, if we have a power forward who can knock down 3s on the opposite side of the floor. Allen Graves would be a nice get for that spot with Potter being his backup. I would like to see Mustapha Thiam at the 5, but that would mean Moreno would be a sub. It would help Moreno by practicing against a solid big; he also needs to bulk up his upper body. Sign Robert Wright to play the point. Add Juke Harris or Terrance Hill at the 2 spot with Hawthorne as the backup and that would be a solid team.
Pope needs to move on from Stokes for many reasons. The best talent in the portal is finding a home. Pope doesn't want to be left empty when the music stops.
Pope hasn't signed anyone from high school. Everyone turned him down. He also has been turned down by just about everyone in the portal. I do think once we get out first commitment the dam will break open but Pope is bad at evaluating the transfer portal. Look at who we brought in this year?
If you check NBA rosters you’ll find about 40% of the players are from lesser or in some cases no college/university. If you’re good enough the NBA will find you.