Tyran Stokes put on a show Tuesday night. The Rainier Beach (Wash.) standout poured in a school record 63 points against West Seattle. The performance on his senior night only reinforced why he is viewed as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2026 class.
The Jayhawks continue to recruit Stokes, though he has not committed to any school. Stokes recently visited Kansas on Saturday for the BYU game and said his Nike NIL deal won't stop him from committing to Kansas. He was also named as a McDonald's All-American this week.
Nike NIL Deal Won't Stop No. 1 High School Recruit Tyran Stokes From Committing to Kansas
Tyran Stokes won't let his new NIL deal with Nike impact his college decision. Kansas men's basketball is still in the clear running to land the class of 2026 No. 1 high school recruit Stokes despite his recent NIL deal with Nike.
Kansas is a school that is sponsored by Adidas, so many may think that would rule out the Jayhawks in Stokes' recruitment, but that's not the case, according to him.
Stokes has narrowed his decision to five schools: Kansas, Oregon, Vanderbilt, Washington and Kentucky. That is a mix of three Adidas schools and three Nike schools, so clearly his Nike NIL deal will not affect his choice.
When asked if the Nike deal would impact his college decision, he pointed to recent Duke star Cooper Flagg and how he played for the Blue Devils, a Nike School, while being signed with New Balance.
Top Recruits In House For BYU Kansas Showdown at Allen Fieldhouse
The spotlight Saturday night inside Allen Fieldhouse will stretch beyond the court and to the future of Kansas men's basketball. Three elite recruits are expected to attend when Kansas hosts the BYU, adding recruiting buzz to one of the Big 12’s biggest games of the season.
Headlining the group is five-star wing Tyran Stokes, an uncommitted standout from Seattle and Rainier Beach High School. Kansas is among several national powers pursuing Stokes, along with Kentucky, Oregon and Louisville.
Two future Jayhawks are also expected in the building. Guard Taylen Kinney, a 2026 signee from Atlanta, and forward Javon Bardwell, a 2027 small forward from Overtime Elite, are slated to watch the matchup.
The timing works in Kansas’ favor. The game marks the program’s 1,000th men’s contest at Allen Fieldhouse and has already drawn ESPN College GameDay to Lawrence, setting the stage for a packed and loud environment that coaches often lean on in recruiting battles.
For Stokes, Kinney and Bardwell, the visit provides a look at Big 12 intensity on one of college basketball’s most famous floors. For Kansas fans, it is another look into the future of Kansas basketball.