Stokes, potential No. 1 pick in ’27 NBA draft, chooses Kansas

tyrann stokesThe No. 1 senior in the country and the unanimous favorite for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, will play for kansas They announced the next season on Tuesday.

Stokes chooses Jayhawks kentuckyannounced his decision on ESPN’s “NBA Tip-Off” before the start of Tuesday’s playoff games. he is number 1 ESPN’s 2026 SC Next 100.

Kansas and Kentucky have waged an intense recruiting battle back and forth over the past several months for Stokes’ commitment. The Wildcats seemed to be the clear leaders in the fall, but when the early signing period came and went without Stokes’ commitment, Kansas surged and became the favorite as the college season progressed. However, after the season, Stokes visited Kentucky and the Wildcats closed the gap. But Kansas was able to fend off the late pressure from Mark Pope’s program.

Stokes is a huge and much-needed recruiting win for Bill Self and Kansas. He is the second five-star commitment to join the Jayhawks at point guard in the 2026 class tylane kinneyAnd makes Self the potential No. 1 NBA draft pick for the second consecutive season darrin peterson Spent last season in Lawrence. Kansas also now has the No. 2-ranked recruiting class in the country.

After four consecutive seasons without advancing to the Sweet 16, Self has a preseason All-American and the focal point for next season’s team in Stokes. Their commitment comes after portal additions Leroy Bleiden Jr.. (Toledo), Keanu Dawes (Utah) and Christian Reeves (Charleston).

Stokes, a 6-foot-7 small forward, has been considered one of the best players in his class for the past few years. He earned multiple power-conference scholarship offers before the start of his freshman season at Prolific Prep (Calif.), making a name for himself playing with older age groups on the Nike EYBL circuit and USA Basketball.

Stokes, who is originally from Louisville, Kentucky, transferred to Notre Dame High School in Los Angeles in the summer of 2024, but then left in November just days before the start of his senior season. He eventually enrolled at Seattle’s Rainier Beach High School and played there last season. Stokes helped lead Rainier Beach to a state championship – including a 63-point performance on his senior night in front of assistant coaches from Kansas and Kentucky.

Last summer, Stokes was the best player on the Nike EYBL circuit, averaging 22.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Oakland Soldiers program.

He has won three gold medals in USA Basketball, including at the FIBA ​​Under-16 Americas Championship in 2023, the FIBA ​​U17 Basketball World Cup in 2024, and the FIBA ​​U19 Basketball World Cup last summer. Over the course of 20 games in those three tournaments, he averaged 10.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

Stokes has an unusual blend of scoring, playmaking, and high-volume rebounding. According to Synergy Sports data, he shot 51% from the field and 36% from 3-point range on the Nike EYBL circuit last summer, while getting to the free throw line 10.4 times per game, one of the highest marks in that database. he attacks the rim Anthony Edwards-Level force and regularly earns trips over the line.

Next season should provide a clearer picture of his decision-making and passing, which are already exceptional for a player with his physical tools. Their playing styles are compared deni avdija of portland trail blazers.