Tyran Stokes, 2026’s No. 1 high school hoops prospect, knows he still has work to do

PORTLAND, Ore. — Tyran Stokes’ basketball and life journey has already taken him from his hometown of Louisville, Ky., to San Diego to Atlanta to Napa, Calif., to Sherman Oaks, Calif., to Seattle.

And as the SC Next 100 No. 1 ranked prospect in the class of 2026 changed his address, he continued to live up to the hype that even convinced NBA icon LeBron James to attend one of his games.

The Rainier Beach High School senior’s next destination is the University of Kansas for a pit stop before likely declaring for the NBA draft.

While Stokes is just 18 years old, his life experiences have already made him feel like a grown man.

“I’d probably say I feel like I’m 27. Close to 30. Probably 31,” Stokes told Andscape while practicing for USA Basketball in the Hoop Summit on April 9 at Moda Center. “I just feel like I’ve experienced so much at a young age. Growing up, I’ve been around older dudes. Most of my cousins that I feel closer to are in their 20s, late 20s, mid 20s. So, I feel like I’ve just always been closer to older dudes.

“I’ve just always been able to just be able to hang. I always felt like I was around their age. I’ve always got like, ‘Oh, you seem older than what you are.’ I just feel like so many people find me more mature than my age.”

Stokes announced Tuesday on ESPN’s “Inside the NBA” that he will be attending Kansas. While Hall of Fame coach Bill Self and the Jayhawks have produced numerous NBA players, Stokes joined Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins as the only No. 1 ranked high school players to commit to Kansas since ESPN began high schoo player recruiting rankings in 2007.

Stokes, a 6-foot-7, 230-pound forward, led Rainier Beach to a 2026 WIAA 3A state championship by averaging more than 30 points and 13 rebounds per game while playing with former NBA star Jamal Crawford’s son, JJ.

Even with his success, Stokes told Andscape he has a thirst for more.

“I feel like some people say, ‘You’ve been No. 1 [for a while],’ ” Stokes said. “I could look back, but I feel like I’ve still got work to do. I don’t really look at it. I look at it as a number. I could go on my notes app and create a top 100 right now, post it on Instagram. And people would go crazy, ‘Oh, this is Tyran Stokes’ top 100 in his class.’ It’s just opinions at the end of the day. So, I feel like if I just keep working, keep doing what I do, I’m going to end up in an arena like this [Moda Center] playing 82 games [in the NBA].”

Stokes spoke to Andscape following practice for the 2026 Hoop Summit, in which he scored 15 points to help Team USA defeat the World team 102-100 in overtime on April 11. The following is a Q&A with the potential No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA draft on how he was introduced to basketball, his old teammate AJ Dybantsa, Jamal Crawford, his first love in sports, the challenges he has trusting people and more.

How did you get introduced to basketball?

I went to a little mini basketball workout or camp from one of my mom’s friends that she knew. Ever since then, I just fell in love with it. I was just always asking to go to the gym just to do little shooting clinics, dribbling drills, all that stuff like that.

How have you taken this ascension? What’s been the best part of it, the most challenging?

I’d say the best part is just building relationships, creating more opportunities for me and my family, holding open more doors for me. The hardest part is just staying focused, not letting the little voices get in my head, let people talk me down and just not let the narratives take over.

Can you trust many people right now?

No, not at all. It’s hard to trust people. It’s been like that for a long time.

How did that come about?

Just being in situations where people try to go around my back. Being young, you don’t know. Being in a new situation you don’t know much. People do little things. They know more than you. They try to go around you because they think you’re dumb to the situation. But once you start to figure out how those people are trying to move and the things that you’re trying to do, it’s easier to figure out who to trust and not to.

So how much have you grown as a person over these four years?

I’ve been in different cities, on different teams, everywhere. It’s just learning myself, taking time away from basketball, other people. Just giving myself individual time just to grow as a person.

If you could do these four years over, would you have done this basketball journey the same?

Yeah. I ain’t going to lie, I feel like everything I went through has helped me and been for this position right now that I’m in. I’ve learned a lot, good or bad. It’s helped me learn more for the future.

How do you take losing?

Not well at all, depending on how big the loss is. If it’s a big loss, I’ll let it sit for two or three days. I’ll try to get in the gym if I can right after the game. I don’t like losing at all. I’ve never been a loser in my life, no matter what it is. You could say, “The first one to walk to the car wins.” I’m going to make sure I’m the first one here. I’m just a competitive person.

Competitive in everything?

Everything. It can be the first one to finish a water bottle.

How does your competitive fire translate to the basketball floor?

Just competing. It might be a little scrimmage. Some people might not find a scrimmage to be as important as the [Hoop Summit] game. I take every chance I get to step on the floor to compete hard. Whenever I step on the floor, I’m going to play my heart out.

You and former BYU star forward AJ Dybantsa were once teammates with Prolific Prep in Napa, Calif. Do you and Dybantsa, who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, communicate much?

Yeah, I talk to him. Literally, we were just talking, because I think he’s going to be at the Jordan Brand Classic. So, we’re talking a little bit, because I’m going to see him out there next week. We talk all the time.

What advice are you getting from former BYU star forward AJ Dybantsa (high school teammate at Prolific Prep in Napa, Calif.), who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, that’s going to help you when you get to college?

Honestly, he just let me know how his experience was. We’re kind of in similar positions, both being projected top [NBA draft] picks. It’s him just letting me know how referees are, how they treat him, how certain teams scout them, how things were at the beginning of the season, in the middle of season, end of the season, just learning the pace of the game — different stuff like that. Just little details that I could add to my repertoire before I get there.

Where did that competitive spirit come from?

I played football growing up. That was my first sport I played. I didn’t really want to do it. My mom was like, “No, you’re going to go play football.” So, one day I got picked up. Next thing you know, I got nicknamed Grumpy. I was just a dog on the field. That was what everybody just knew me as in the city of Louisville. Everybody knew it. I was probably going to be the next best football player. It just changed, but I carried that mentality over from football to basketball.

What position were you in football?

I was mainly a DE [defensive end], played a little linebacker. I couldn’t run the ball or nothing because in little league, if you were a certain weight you couldn’t. I was bigger than everybody. We were the Louisville Colts. We had our own theme song and everything. My first year, I was young. I wasn’t even supposed to be playing. I think I was like 4 or 5.

With all you have at stake, why did you play football as a senior in high school and how was the experience?

Honestly, I knew I wasn’t going to get the opportunity to play again. Once you get to college, those dudes in college have been doing the same thing I’ve been doing when it comes to basketball. So, I don’t feel like I could go out there and ask the coaches, “Yo, can I step on the football field and go play?” I feel like it’ll be too late. So, I feel like if I was having the opportunity, senior in high school, I feel like it’s a no-brainer. I’ve already done it before. It’s been a while since I put on the pads and helmet. I was thinking about doing it junior year. Senior year I was like, “I got to do it. This is my last opportunity.” I wanted to be a kid. I was actually going to play baseball, but I can’t for safety reasons.

How much mentoring has Jamal Crawford given you?

He makes sure he’s [available]. He texts me like, “Yo, how’s everything going?” Makes sure I’m being on top of my stuff. I’m doing the right things. Giving me advice. He played in the league for 20 years, so he got everything [in terms of experiences]. So, I just listen to everything he has to tell me, just take it in, just add it to what I’ve got to do. He’s been a great role model, great mentor for me since I got to Seattle. Even before then — I met him in the eighth grade. He’s just been there since then.

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