Will the Tyran Stokes saga ever end? If the feelings of the Big Blue Nation are any indication, it has forever felt unlikely. Months upon months have drawn out regarding the recruitment of the nation's undisputed top recruit, and Cats fans have found little resolve in Kansas being favored almost the entire way.
Now, Mark Pope is pulling out all the stops to appeal to the No. 1 overall prospect. In a move that could even ultimately mean more overall positivity for the program, Kentucky is pursuing shifty NBA legend-turned-coach Jamal Crawford for their staff of assistants, per Matt Jones.
Especially involved Kentucky fans will already know that Crawford has coached Stokes at Rainier Beach, bearing a solid relationship with Kentucky's "dream get." If the Wildcats add Crawford to the staff, they'll net both invaluable NBA experience and, potentially, an edge with their top prospect.
Jamal Crawford Could Give Kentucky an Edge
According to Jones, Kentucky made an offer to Crawford for the position a few weeks ago and, as of two days ago, were still actively pursuing. The rumor of Crawford's hire circulated through the BBN internet sphere earlier this offseason, and is now certain to take attentive hold once more.
Again, whether or not the hypothetical hire landed Stokes would be irrelevant to the value that Crawford brings to the team. He'd join Mo Williams as the second former pro to hit the recruiting trail for the blue and white.
It'd truly be an assistant coaching staff like no other nationwide. And, to boot, it certainly wouldn't hurt in the ongoing chace for Stokes.
The Ongoing Chase For Stokes
Most recently, Stokes took a widely-publicized visit to Lexington. While he didn't commit on campus, Kentucky remains active in the race alongside Oregon and, again, Kansas for his class-leading services.
If the Wildcats have long been on the brink of landing Stokes, perhaps literally hiring one of his coaches is what the team needs to fully tip this thing over. His recruitment has been brutally unpredicatable so far, so nobody really knows.
But, again, this is a win-win move for the Wildcats. Cats fans should keep an extremely close eye on both Stokes (especially his social media presence) as well as what Kentucky is planning with Crawford. When push comes to shove, the resolution of both these pursuits could tie directly into one another.
For better for the BBN, or for the far unfortunate worse.
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