Where there's smoke, there's usually fire and this could prove to be great for Bill Self and Kansas hoops. While there's no set commitment date locked in for Tyran Stokes, a 5-star small forward currently playing in Seattle for Rainier Beach, fans across the country are waiting for him to make his call.
The Darryn Peterson saga is frustrating for everyone, including fans
Several teams have separated themselves from the pack, including the Jayhawks. There's recent speculation too that maybe, just maybe, Kansas has taken the lead in this race. Should Stokes end up picking Kansas, it would no question change everything for Self and his 2026 plans:
Kansas has surged to the front in the race for the No. 1 overall player in the class of 2026 Tyran Stokes, according to Eric Bossi of 247Sports.
— Chris Beasmore (@CBeasmoreSports) January 4, 2026
Kentucky once looked like the clear favorite heading into the fall, but JMI-related complications have cooled that momentum. 👀🏀 #BBN pic.twitter.com/PlpFc6ThA0
Kansas basketball is hoping to land 5-star SF Tyran Stokes over Kentucky and Oregon
Stokes is a standout shooter and there's good reason so many different programs are after him. Throughout his recruitment, the youngster has picked up offers from Kentucky, Oregon, Kansas, Louisville, USC and many others. He's down to the Jayhawks, Ducks and Wildcats.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Stokes is ranked five stars, the No. 1 small forward and No. 1 player overall for the 2026 class. In addition to being a future college superstar, Stokes also has the NBA written all over him - yeah, he's just that good.
For a little while, it felt like Kentucky was the clear-cut favorite here, but the season has been quite rough for Mark Pope and his staff. The Wildcats don't seem to have an identity and frustration continues to mount for the SEC side. Could that be something Stokes and his camp are paying close attention to?
Potentially. As for Kansas, the Jayhawks are 10-4 on the year and ranked No. 22 in the new AP Top 25 poll. Yes, things have been far from perfect and there's been plenty of worry on Darryn Peterson, but this team has also looked strong. Self is no stranger to landing big-name recruits and adding Stokes to his list would be incredible. There's still time for things to change, but the latest Kansas buzz sure has people talking.