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Tyran Stokes is the top high school basketball player, but he's still proving himself
TL;DR
Tyran Stokes is the top-ranked high school basketball player in the U.S., a Washington state champion, and a McDonald's All-American. Despite his accolades, he faces scrutiny and is focused on proving his character as graduation approaches.
Tyran Stokes is the top-ranked high school basketball player in the country. He's a Washington state champion and a McDonald's All-American. He's one of the best scorers in high school, a senior with sky-high potential. Yet the negative noise around him, which has only heightened over the course of the school year, has him working to prove himself even as graduation approaches.
"Honestly, [I'm] trying to show that what people see on the court isn't really true," he said. "And just showing the type of character that I have isn't what people hear."
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What people see on the court of the Rainier Beach (Seattle) star is, at times, in the eye of the beholder. Stokes is an elite shot-maker, standing 6-foot-7 and boasting a 7-foot wingspan, making him pretty impossible for high schoolers to guard. He can play fast and explode with athleticism to get to the rim and throw down dunks, but he also slows down with deliberate movements in a way that's Luka Doncic-esque. He has good vision and can find teammates around the court, showing flash and creation skills that can translate to the next level. You don't have to squint to see how he could become an all-star in the NBA.
#4 Tyran Stokes, Boys West 2026 McDonald's All American Team Picture Day, Friday March 27, 2026.
But that slow, deliberate play is sometimes slower than deliberate. He jogs around the court often, and there may be several possessions in a row in which he doesn't cross the 3-point line on either side of the court. His size and athleticism give him the ability to be an impactful defender — he was instrumental to trap defense at Rainier Beach, and in the McDonald's All American game, he had a steal and a chase-down block in transition — but he can get lost off-ball when he's too nonchalant. Do you love his on-court theatrics and trash-talking, or hate it as showboating?
He hears the feedback.
Tyran Stokes faces Jordan Smith Jr. during an inbounds pass at the McDonald's All American Game on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ.
"I hear things like, 'Oh, he may be an arrogant kid or a bad kid. He may not listen to his coaches, this, that, and a third.' But, you know, for me... I hear it. I use it as motivation to keep pushing me to work hard, keep pushing me to do better at those things," he said, adding that he wants to show "what type of kid I could be, and also just being as coachable as I could be."
Stokes was a surprise transfer to Rainier Beach after a sudden withdrawal from his previous school, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, CA) in November, shortly before the start of the basketball season. In his junior year at Notre Dame in one of the toughest conferences in the nation, he averaged 21.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists with 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks per game.
He elevated his game as a senior, averaging 31 points on 53% shooting while posting 13 rebounds, six assists, and four steals per game, per MaxPreps. He scored a career-high 63 points in January and helped lead Rainier Beach to a 29-1 record and a 3A state championship.
At the McDonald's All American Game in March, he looked like a leader during practice. He played well for the victorious West team, serving as one of the lead ball-handlers and a primary defender of guard Jordan Smith Jr. During media day, he addressed negative perceptions of his play and went in depth in response to a question that was more broadly about what he can improve.
"If people believe those things to be true, I want to prove them wrong. So if I can work on that to prove them wrong, that's what I want," he said.
Boys basketball players including Christian Collins (left), Tyran Stokes (center) and Jason Crowe Jr. (right) rush toward Jaxon Richardson after a completed dunk at the Spire JamFest on Monday, March 30, 2026.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: Tyran Stokes looks to prove critics wrong on court
Q&A
What achievements has Tyran Stokes accomplished in high school basketball?
Tyran Stokes is a Washington state champion and a McDonald's All-American, recognized as the top-ranked high school basketball player in the country.
How does Tyran Stokes' playing style compare to other players?
Stokes combines elite shot-making with athleticism, drawing comparisons to Luka Doncic for his ability to slow down and create plays while also being explosive at the rim.
What challenges is Tyran Stokes facing as he approaches graduation?
As graduation nears, Stokes is dealing with negative perceptions and is focused on proving his character and skills beyond what people see on the court.
What are Tyran Stokes' physical attributes that contribute to his basketball performance?
Standing 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot wingspan, Stokes is difficult for high school defenders to guard, enhancing his effectiveness as a scorer.