Five-star small forward Tyran Stokes, and the consensus No. 1 overall prospect in the class of 2026, appears to be closing in on a college decision.
The 6-foot-7, 225-pound Louisville native, who currently plays high school basketball in California, has been one of the most recruited prospect in the nation. According to Rivals’ recruiting insider Joe Tipton, Stokes has narrowed his focus to three schools with Kentucky, Kansas, and Oregon and many are expecting him to make his announcement before the start of his upcoming high school season.
“Stokes’ recruitment has been really interesting,” Tipton wrote. “At first it looked like Louisville was gaining early momentum, but the Cardinals are now fading. Then Kentucky surged as the possible favorite. A couple weeks ago, I would’ve also given UK the edge, but I think Kansas is more in it than people think.”
Tipton added that Oregon has emerged as a legitimate contender following Stokes’ recent visit, with Nike co-founder and Oregon booster Phil Knight reportedly taking an active role in the pursuit. “I’m not sure if it’s enough to overpower Kansas or Kentucky, though,” Tipton said.
The 17-year-old has already built a reputation as one of the most versatile and physically dominant wings in high school basketball, drawing comparisons to some of the top power-athletes in recent recruiting cycles. His decision is expected to have a major impact across the 2026 recruiting class.
