Kentucky basketball has been recruiting Tyran Stokes hard; Kentucky has done everything it can in his recruitment. And at nearly every twist in a wild recruitment, Mark Pope comes up as the bridesmaid. After this last social media post, it's time to let Kansas have him.
After Bill Self announced that he would be in fact returning to Kansas for the 2026 season, Tyran Stokes sent an emoji out on X.
😯
— tyran stokes (@tyran_stokes) April 1, 2026
Clearly, when he is intrigued this much by Bill Self being back on the sideline, his heart is in Lawrence. And that is totally okay and his choice. Kansas is a great program, but it is not Kentucky. It's time for Mark Pope to act like it.
And it's time for Mark Pope to follow John Calipari.
John Calipari jumped out early, Mark Pope should follow now
Back in August of 2025, John Calipari was named by Joe Tipton as a coach to watch in the recruitment of the No. 1 player in the 2026 class. That push never really gained momentum, and it seems to be down to one simple thing: money.
After Arkansas' season ended with a loss to Arizona, Calipari talked about recruiting and the new age of college basketball's "bidding war" by saying that "(Arkansas) wouldn't be involved" in them. That seems to match up with other stories of schools cooling off on Stokes when he demanded $6 million to come and play for their school.
That financial sum is large, but you also have to worry about timing and fit. If this were January, you could take the time to allow the process to play out. But we are 6 days from the Transfer Portal officially opening, and it is only open for 15 days. There is no time to allow Stokes to have a Ross-Rachel will they or won't they moment.
Kentucky was seemingly his second choice all along, and with Bill Self back and this little emoji he put out, the writing is on the wall. It is simply time for Kentucky to cut their losses and find other targets.
But I totally get why Mark Pope would want to wait. Stokes has all the talent in the world, ESPN's Cory Alexander said, "I believe at this stage alone that Tyran is more offensively skilled than Scottie Barnes was at this time...I believe that he is very similar to Cade [Cunningham]…When you look at Tyran…he’s going to be a point at the highest level.”
That is the kind of player that can lift an entire roster to play better. He is undeniably a tremendous basketball player. But it's time for Kansas to have him.
Mark Pope needs to find his own Tyran Stokes, someone who wants to be in Lexington first, because Kentucky should never play second fiddle to anyone.