Oregon Ducks 'seriously in the mix' for No.1 recruit Tyran Stokes

There is plenty of uncertainty and pessimism surrounding the Oregon Ducks' men's basketball program right now. After a dreadful 12-20 season and several departures in the transfer portal, the program's direction is up in the air. However, the outlook for the future of the program could take a drastic swing in the right direction with one big move.

The nation's consensus top recruit in 2026, forward Tyran Stokes, recently reshared his final three schools in his recruitment to his Instagram story, fueling speculation that a decision could be around the corner. He announced his finalists in November, which include Oregon, Kentucky and Kansas. While the Ducks appeared to be the odd team out next to a pair of blue-bloods, there is a chance Oregon swoops in for a shocking recruiting win.

ESPN's Paul Biancardi reports the Ducks are "seriously in the mix" for the five-star recruit from Rainier Beach High School in Seattle. A No. 1 recruit has never signed with Oregon, and Stokes would join four-star forward Tajh Ariza in Eugene.

Stokes' recruitment is entering the home stretch, and the Ducks could have an appealing offer for him, both in terms of NIL and his role on the court. Kansas has been viewed as the leader, despite a recent visit to Kentucky, but Oregon could feature Stokes as a freshman in a way the blue-blood programs likely can't. The Ducks are still missing a true point guard to run the offense after missing out on Colby Garland in the transfer portal, but Stokes could quickly work himself into a leading role.

The 6-foot-7, 230-pound forward is a McDonald's All-American and took home MVP honors at the Jordan Brand Classic last weekend. Stokes is a physical point forward, with the ability to force his way inside and still be a threat from range with his jumpshot. Stokes is also partnered with Nike, which would make the Ducks an attractive fit and potentially sway him away from Kansas, an Adidas school.

Oregon coach Dana Altman is facing plenty of pressure to recruit stars to the program, both through high school and the transfer portal. Stokes is considering each program's portal additions for his decision, per Biancardi. Despite several recent misses, landing a commitment from Stokes would be massive for Altman and the future of the Ducks' program.