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2026 five-star Tyran Stokes shuns Oregon, commits to Kansas
TL;DR
Five-star recruit Tyran Stokes has committed to Kansas, rejecting Oregon. Stokes is the top-ranked player in the 2026 class, marking another win for head coach Bill Self.
Key points
- Tyran Stokes is the No. 1 player in the 2026 class
- He committed to Kansas, rejecting Oregon
- Kansas is led by head coach Bill Self
- Oregon's recent performance affected their recruiting efforts
- Stokes' commitment marks a second straight top recruit for Kansas
Mentioned in this story
Bill SelfDana Altman
Tyran StokesKansasOregon Ducks
As recently as a week ago, the Oregon Ducks were "seriously in the mix" to land the commitment of the No. 1 player in the 2026 class, guard/forward Tyran Stokes. But with his commitment date set to Tuesday, reports began to surface that the Rainier Beach High School product had cut his list down to just two schools: Kentucky and Kansas.
He chose Kansas, joining a program led by head coach Bill Self that's fostered a number of talented players during his tenure, most recently with Darryn Peterson, the No. 1 player in the 2025 class. Self now lands the top-ranked player for the second straight recruiting class.
Losing the recruiting battle for Stokes wasn't entirely unexpected, as the Ducks were coming off a 12-win season while both Kansas and Kentucky advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament and are known as blue-blood programs in men's college basketball. Yet, it's still another instance of head coach Dana Altman and his staff striking out on either wooing a talented into the program or watching them walk away, as both standouts Jackson Shelstad and Kwame Evans Jr. decided to enter the transfer portal after the season.
Despite missing out on Stokes, the Ducks have received the commitment of several highly-ranked players in the 2026 class.
Four-star forward Tajh Ariza, the son of former NBA veteran Trevor Ariza, is the headliner, as he's the No. 32 ranked player overall, per 247 Sports Composite. Four-star center Kendre Harrison also is committed, though he's a tight end for the football team and is currently focused on football first, per Dan Lanning's comments after the spring game. Three-star forward Steven Spurlock, the No. 200 player in the class, is also committed to Oregon.
While it would've been a significant win for the Ducks to land Stokes, it hadn't ever seemed like a real possibility with blue-bloods occupying much of his attention. Onward for Altman and the Oregon program, who need to continue scouring the transfer portal for talented players to fill out the 2026-27 roster and beyond.
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Q&A
Why did Tyran Stokes choose Kansas over Oregon?
Tyran Stokes chose Kansas due to its strong basketball program and the success of head coach Bill Self, who has developed many talented players.
What impact does Tyran Stokes' commitment have on Kansas basketball?
Stokes' commitment strengthens Kansas' recruiting class, marking the second consecutive year they have secured the top-ranked player.
How has Oregon's recent performance affected their recruiting?
Oregon's recent 12-win season and inability to advance in the NCAA tournament likely contributed to losing out on top recruits like Stokes.
