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Tyran Stokes and Taylen Kinney could become Kansas' best freshman duo in over a decade

These two five-star freshman could lead Kansas back to a National Championship.
ByEricka Brockish
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Oct 25, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self talks to Kansas Jayhawks guard Taylen Kinney (0) during a game against the Duke Blue Devils at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
Oct 25, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self talks to Kansas Jayhawks guard Taylen Kinney (0) during a game against the Duke Blue Devils at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Kansas has officially wrapped up its three exhibition games before the start of the regular season, and if there is one thing to be learned in watching this team play, it's that Bill Self has himself an elite duo of freshmen.

While it took longer than fans and the coaching staff would have liked, it was huge when the Jayhawks secured the commitment from No. 1 overall recruit Tyran Stokes in the Class of 2026. However, there is another former five-star in that class that deserves some attention as well: Taylen Kinney.

Both Stokes and Kinney performed fairly well in their first bit of college action. Self is no stranger to coaching talented freshmen, but he could have his best first-year duo in Lawrence since Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins back in 2013-2014.

While Kinney and Stokes didn't put up quite as good of numbers as Duke's best players, who just so happen to be seniors, it's impressive nonetheless, and should give fans a lot of hope in these guys balling out this season.

Tyran Stokes and Taylen Kinney are going to be a nightmare for opposing defenses

Against Duke, Kinney came off the bench and played the second most minutes on the court, behind only Stokes, who played the most. Stokes and Kinney also happened to be the two leading scorers for the Jayhawks, turning in 27-point and 14-point performances.

Both freshmen are still working to find their rhythm behind the arc, but they combined to hit four of the Jayhawks' eight 3-pointers. While Kinney isn't as effective with rebounds and assists as Stokes, that could change come the regular season when both find themselves on the ball. Kinney's defense is really coming on, though, after recording three steals against a great Duke team.

Even with all the veteran players returning to Kansas with the five-for-five rule and court rulings, there is a question as to whether all these guys will truly be eligible for the entire season. Because of that, Self needs his young guys to lead the way and take on the lion's share of the offense. So far, both Stokes and Kinney seem to be growing in confidence, which is huge.

Defensively, Kansas has always been strong, forcing teams into tough shots and trusting their big men at the rim to protect the basket. So, if Stokes and Kinney can become an unstoppable duo offensively, it could force teams to put more pressure on them and open up lanes and shots for other guys on the court like Paul Mbiya, Melvin Council Jr., and Leory Blyden Jr. This is exactly why Self and his staff worked so hard to land the elite playmakers.

Self has something special on his hands with Stokes and Kinney, and the more these guys play together, the better they are going to get, and it could lead the Jayhawks to a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Fans were given a sneak peak of their potential against Duke, and it's only up from here.

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