After months of what many thought was five-star recruit Tyran Stokes going back adn forth between Kansas and Kentucky, Stokes picked the Jayhawks. Head coach Bill Self got his elite recruit to build a lineup around, even though the rest of the roster had already been put together for the most part.
Fans were honestly reaching their end waiting for Stokes to commit; many even wondered if he was worth all the fuss. However, Self knew what he would bring to this team, and while the potential of landing Stokes at Kansas didn't make his decision to stay, it did play a factor.
Bill Self explains how Tyran Stokes factored into Kansas return
When Bill Self was making his decision on whether or not he would return to Kansas, many believed that Tyran Stokes' decision would hang in the balance of what he decided. Even after Self announced his return, Stokes sent out a cryptic tweet on x (formerly known as Twitter) that had some thinking it was a good sign.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, outlining the process he took in deciding to return to Kansas next season, Self revealed just how much the potential of landing Stokes played into the decision.
"Let’s just call it like it is: There wasn’t much runway if we were gonna get Tyran Stokes,” Self said. “So I wanted to coach Tyran Stokes, period. And I knew we had a great chance to get him, but we couldn’t delay what we were doing," Self said. “Now, would I have come back still (without Stokes in the picture)? Yes, but the excitement level to come back, I think, was in large part because we didn’t have him, but we had a great chance to get Tyran.”
Self knew he couldn't take forever to make his decision on returning to Kansas or not because the Jayhawks were still heavily in the mix, if not severely leading for Stokes' commitment. Self knows what it is like to coach No. 1, overall prospect players. He did so with Darryn Peterson, and while that didn't work out the way everyone wanted, it was still an honor.
With so much on the line with Stokes, Self knew making the decision needed to come sooner than later, but he also believes that even if Stokes wasn't in the picture, or chose Kentucky, he would have made the decision to return. However, Self is feeling a little extra is left in the tank now.
Soon, Self will be back on the court with this brand new roster he built after six seniors graduated and six more went to the portal. It was a lot to rebuild this team, but soon it will all get to pay off when he sees them on the court.
Self doesn't know when the time will come to hang up his whistle for good, but he believes he will know it when it gets to that point. He has accomplished a lot in his career, but there is still more on the horizon, and after that you might ask? Well, he has a loving family and some amazing grandchildren eagerly waiting for him.
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