Tyran Stokes, the top prospect in ESPN’s 2026 class, has earned high praise from ESPN analyst Paul Biancardi, who likened his game to early‑career Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors.
In his latest ESPN column titled “NBA comps for top 2026 players,” Biancardi has compared the top players from the 2026 class to their likely NBA counterparts. The 6-foot-7 Notre Dame High School, California, standout found himself getting compared to Barnes in the way he plays.
“His current profile mirrors that of Scottie Barnes at the same stage — both averaged 2.5 3-pointers and connected at a 25% clip,” Biancardi wrote. “Like Barnes, Stokes projects as a versatile forward whose combination of size, physicality and playmaking ability fits the modern mold of a two-way wing.”
According to Biancardi, the 220-pound combo forward can bulldoze through contact, draw fouls, and thrive in transition. His ball-handling makes him a good playmaker as well, on top of scoring.
What’s Next For Top Prospect Tyran Stokes After High School?
Tyran Stokes is set to become a highly sought-after recruit for top NCAA programs. 247 Sports has reaffirmed his top status in their latest rankings.
As far as his recruiting visits are concerned, he officially visited Louisville in October 2024 and made the trip to Kansas in April this year. In mid-June, Stokes took an official visit to Kentucky, his hometown college. The said visit was originally scheduled to take place in mid-May but was rescheduled to a month later.
For his recruitment, the rivalry between Louisville and Kentucky is heating up. Louisville initially led with a 66% chance of signing him, but that has dipped to around 32% after Stokes visited Kansas and Kentucky.
According to On3, his connection with Kentucky head coach Mark Pope runs deep, which may affect his decision of where he wants to go.
Pope was one of four college coaches who were asked to lead training camp for Team USA’s U19 squad, which included the likes of Tyran Stokes, Jasper Johnson, and Malachi Moreno. The camp was conducted in Colorado Springs from June 14 onwards.
Beyond the blue-bloods, Arkansas and potentially others are showing significant interest. No official visits have been planned yet, but more are expected as the summer AAU circuit unfolds.
Earlier, there were rumors that Stokes would consider reclassifying, but he shut down the talks and stayed true to his status as a 2026 class member.
It remains to be seen where Stokes goes, but at the moment, Pope’s Kentucky is leading the race.
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