Jamie Shaw picks Kentucky for Tyran Stokes
Louisville fans, you might want to scroll past this one. On3’s Jamie Shaw just dropped his latest round of predictions for some of the top prospects in the 2026 recruiting class — and when it came to Tyran Stokes, he’s leaning Kentucky. Shaw pegged Arkansas and John Calipari as the biggest threat, with “the field” lurking as a distant third.
“Over the last couple of months, conversations with sources around the recruitment have started to shift toward a Kentucky lean,” Shaw said. “Arkansas and John Calipari are picking up some momentum. Stokes has not spoken to the media for a few months now, and things remain somewhat quiet around his recruitment.”
Quiet might be the right word publicly, but behind the scenes this battle has been anything but dull. Stokes is a Louisville native, but he’s been playing his high school ball in California. The cross-country move hasn’t cooled Kentucky’s interest — or its confidence. Pope and his staff are keeping close tabs on which visits Stokes schedules, which campuses he walks onto, and whether a commitment date pops up in the next few months.
If Pope can pull this off in just his second year, the ripple effect could be huge. Stokes could open the door for a push toward Baba Olatunde, potentially giving Kentucky its best recruiting class since the 2014 haul that brought Karl-Anthony Towns and company to Lexington.
Prediction: Kentucky
Confidence Level: 35%
Biggest Threat: Arkansas, the field
Adam Finkelstein, 247sports’ Director of Scouting, calls Stokes “the most talented prospect in the national class and a unique match-up for opposing defenders.” At 6-foot-7, 230 pounds, with a 7-foot wingspan, Stokes blends forward strength with guard skills. He’s explosive in transition, a powerful rebounder (10 per game in EYBL), and a creative playmaker despite a turnover rate that matches his 3.8 assists.
His shooting touch is improving — 36% from three on over three attempts per game — but his biggest growth area remains shot consistency and defensive focus. If he locks in there, Stokes has the tools to be a program-changer for Kentucky.