The Kansas basketball team added its first recruit for the 2026-27 season on Saturday when top point guard Taylen Kinney made his verbal commitment. Tomorrow, another recruit, Trent Perry, is scheduled to announce the school of his choice, and Kansas is a finalist with a high chance at landing the small forward.
After committing to Kansas, Kinney talked to Joe Tipton from On3. Tipton tweeted that Kinney responded to a question about what was next, and Tipton hinted that another player would soon announce for Kansas (Perry?) and that Kinney would now try to convince Tyran Stokes to join him in wearing the crimson and blue.
I asked Tay Kinney who he plans to recruit with him to Kansas. His response:
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) September 28, 2025
"Shoot, I already know one that's coming. Right when I said I was going, I put that call in. I ain't going to say his name, but he going to announce.
“And then trying to get Tyran (Stokes).” https://t.co/HuN6CPdfOl pic.twitter.com/E2PDqGrgYt
Adding Tyran Stokes would be a massive addition for Kansas basketball
Stokes, of course, is the top prospect in this recruiting class. Kansas has been on his radar previously, but there hasn’t been much buzz about him lately.
247Sports still lists the Jayhawks as being high on Stokes’ list, along with Kentucky, Oregon, USC, and Louisville.
If Kansas could land Stokes, it would give them the top recruit two years in a row. KU freshman Darryn Peterson was ranked first overall for 2025-26 by 247 Sports.
While Peterson is likely to play at Kansas just this season before heading to the NBA, adding another top recruit is more proof that KU head coach Bill Self can still bring in top talent.
Having two top-20 prospects, such as Stokes and Taylen Kinney, plus possibly a support piece like Trent Perry, in the same recruiting class will immediately elevate the Jayhawks to the top of the list for the 2026-27 recruiting rankings.
It remains to be seen whether Kinney has any pull with either Perry or Stokes, but you have to love his enthusiasm for Kansas basketball. He’s found his home in Lawrence and is willing to do his best to convince other prospects to join him.
Add Kinney, and maybe Stokes and Perry, to the underclassmen already on Kansas’ roster, like Kohl Rosario, Elmarko Jackson, Bryson Tiller, Samis Calderon, Paul Mbiya, and others, and the Jayhawks would already have to be considered a top team in 2026-27.
It will be interesting to see if Kinney holds any sway over Stokes and if he can help convince the top player in that class to join him at Kansas.