No. 1 player in recruiting class of 2026 includes KU basketball among 5 finalists
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas ranks among five finalists for consensus No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes.
- Kentucky appears to lead Stokes’ recruitment after his multi-year Nike shoe deal.
- Kansas holds four commitments and monitors Javon Bardwell’s possible reclassification.
Kansas has made the list of five finalists for Tyran Stokes, the consensus No. 1 ranked high school basketball player in the class of 2026.
Stokes, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound senior small forward from Notre Dame High in Sherman Oaks, California, on Sunday on ESPN said he’d attend either Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, USC or Oregon for what likely will be a one-and-done season in 2026-27.
He has visited all five schools. The KU visit took place April 19-21.
Kentucky, according to Eric Bossi of 247Sports, is believed to be leading for Stokes, a Louisville native who has signed a multi-year NIL shoe deal with Nike. Kentucky is a Nike school; KU has a deal with Adidas.
“After the Nike announcement, there was speculation that Kansas, who is Adidas, was out of the recruitment. As of Sunday night, sources say KU is still pursuing the nation’s No. 1 overall player. However, sources are less optimistic about the Jayhawks’ chances now,” wrote Joe Tipton of On3.com. Tipton wrote that a decision could be reached as soon as Friday.
Earliler Stokes also considered Alabama, Texas, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Houston, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas Tech and others.
“On Friday night, 2026’s top-ranked hooper Tyran Stokes suited up for Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Notre Dame’s football game (as wide receiver). Within minutes of the game’s completion, the 6-7 wing hopped on a plane for Las Vegas so that he could play games on Saturday and Sunday with the school’s basketball team in the Border League,” analyst Bossi wrote.
“During Saturday’s game, the physical and athletic wing settled for way too many 3s from deep on the left wing, but by Sunday’s nationally televised game against a loaded Dynamic Prep team from Dallas, he was looking more like himself in a come-from-behind win. He was physical to the rim, electric in transition, and impacted the game in ways nobody else in the class can. After Saturday’s game, Stokes announced that he’s down to a final five. However, I think Kentucky has emerged as the leader for Stokes,” Bossi added.
Stokes was a member of the USA Basketball team that won gold in the FIBA U17 World Championships. He averaged 12.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game for Team USA.
This past summer, he played in nine games for the Oakland Soldiers in the Nike EYBL, averaging 23.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.2 blocks. He hit 50.7% of his shots and 42.4% from 3. At Peach Jam, Stokes he averaged 22.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.
Of Stokes, On3’s Jamie Shaw wrote: “One look at Stokes and you see a physically imposing player. Not only does he carry optimal positional size, in the 6-7 range, but he also has a strong frame, with broad shoulders and great length. Stokes can play either forward spot defensively and is most comfortable facing the basket on offense. While Stokes is big, his physical attributes — length and explosive burst — allow him to play bigger than he is listed. When Stokes turns on his alpha switch, this makes him a load for any high school player to attempt to contain.”
KU has four commitments from high school players.
- Davion Adkins, a 6-9, 205-pound senior center from Prolific Prep in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday announced for KU. A Dallas native, Adkins is ranked No. 24 in the recruiting class of 2026 by Rivals, No. 34 by 247Sports and No. 46 by ESPN.
- Taylen Kinney, a 6-2 senior guard out of the Overtime Elite program in Atlanta, is ranked No. 13 in the recruiting class of 2026 by 247Sports, No. 17 by ESPN and No. 22 by Rivals.
- Trent Perry, a 6-4 senior guard from Link Academy in Branson, is ranked No. 77 in the class of 2026 by ESPN, No. 120 by 247Sports and No. 139 by Rivals.
- Javon Bardwell, a 6-4 junior guard out of Overtime Elite, is ranked No. 13 in the recruiting class of 2027 by 247Sports, No. 18 by Rivals and No. 40 by ESPN. There’s a chance Bardwell will reclassify to 2026.
This story was originally published October 6, 2025 at 5:25 PM with the headline "No. 1 player in recruiting class of 2026 includes KU basketball among 5 finalists."
