Tyran Stokes mystery deepens as #1 recruit has leaves Notre Dame mid-season

The nation’s No. 1 high school basketball recruit is suddenly a senior without a home. The mystery around Tyran Stokes' unusual recruitment has become one of the most fascinating stories in prep basketball in 2025.

According to multiple social media reports, Stokes has left Notre Dame High School mid-season. That’s where the confusion starts, not where it ends. Quietly, rumors have followed him for months. A few stories are out there who have claimed he could be difficult to play with. More recently, he’s been linked to disciplinary issues at his private school, including suspensions during football season.

Now, let’s be honest here, we all went to school with that one elite athlete who lived in the principal’s office but never faced true consequences. High school athletics run on wins, not perfection. And that type of dynamic can fracture a locker room, especially when the talent is as enormous as Stokes’s. Some believe that’s why programs like Duke cooled, but those are just rumors.

The rumors vs. the reality

But it’s also important to be fair: He’s still a kid. These are just rumors, and he is a young man who is growing up and learning.

Still learning. Still dealing with enormous hype, expectation, and pressure. None of the rumors are confirmed, and the truth probably sits somewhere between drama and misunderstanding. Because as we all know there are two sides to every story.

Here’s what is certain and what we do know: Tyran Stokes remains a generational talent. His recruitment is down to Kansas, Kentucky, and Oregon. Whichever staff lands him will need to manage both the spotlight and the maturity curve. But that is what college is for, that is where kids learn and grow and develop. That is why these coaches get into the game. You help young men grow, because the basketball ability is unquestioned.

Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion