Tuesday evening marks the heralded NBA Draft. Nearly every association across the Eastern and Western Conferences is set to embark on bringing in their latest star.
This website is no stranger to talking about one of the best possible stars that could very well hear his name called with the No. 1 overall pick on Tuesday night in Darryn Peterson.
However, Peterson is in a coin-flip situation against fellow Big 12 player AJ Dybantsa, with Cam Boozer a nigh-on guaranteed No. 3 pick.
Peterson, Dybantsa and Boozer have all shown several moments of jaw-dropping ability that would make them guaranteed No. 1 draft picks most other years.
So what if you could combine that trio into one player?
ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla did so when describing incoming five-star Tyran Stokes. Stokes chose the Kansas Jayhawks earlier this year after a heated battle with the Kentucky Wildcats, which eventually culminated in Stokes’ commitment to KU during ESPN’s “NBA Tip-Off.”
Since Stokes’ commitment, Kansas fans wouldn’t be blamed for fawning over what a potential squad with him and fellow five-star guard Taylen Kinney could do for a Kansas team that hasn’t made it past the round of 32 since winning the lot in 2022.
Fraschilla’s comparison for Stokes is the best thing Kansas fans could hear
“And he's going to have a great impact in Kansas. He's a big, strong guy. He's kind of a combination of all three of the top picks,” quoted Fraschilla on Monday, in a video by Shreyas Laddha of the Kansas City Star, in anticipation of the NBA Draft.
Talked to Fran Fraschilla about #kubball roster, Tyran Stokes and Darryn Peterson.
— Shreyas Laddha (@shre98) June 22, 2026
He says Stokes is kind of a combo of the top-3 picks in this class. pic.twitter.com/dU1EhSUeaj
“The scoring ability, the athleticism, and the size. Little bit of [Cam] Boozer, a little bit of AJ [Dybantsa], a little bit of Darryn [Peterson]. And I'm excited 'cause I'm gonna see him a lot next year.”
While Stokes hasn’t even stepped foot in an official NCAA game yet, to be compared to any of these three, let alone all three of them, means the Jayhawks have been handed a crown jewel for the next 12 months.
Stokes comes to the Jayhawks rated as a 1.0000 overall prospect by 247Sports composite.
In terms of all-time prospects, Stokes is Kansas’ second-ever 1.0000 recruit alongside Andrew Wiggins from the class of 2014.
Stokes will be joining a class alongside Kinney and four-stars Davion Adkins (power forward/center), Trent Perry (small forward) and Luke Barnett (shooting guard). Creating the nation’s No. 3 overall recruiting class.
Things seem to be different this time
While Jayhawk fans are rightfully excited about Stokes, you don’t have to think too far back to remember a time when another five-star came in and things did not go to plan.
Now, according to Self, Peterson and Stokes are different players and by the way Kansas attacked the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason, expect to see Stokes with the ball in his hand a lot more than Peterson, who often spent time running off of screens to utilize his smooth jumper. This year’s roster also seems to be a lot more built around someone of Stokes’ skill set, making him more than understandable to get excited about.
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