What one new Jayhawk thinks of KU basketball freshman Tyran Stokes
New Kansas men’s basketball player Dennis Parker Jr. arrived in Lawrence on Sunday.
It was his first time in Lawrence as a member of the Jayhawks. And he didn’t visit before committing as a transfer, but he recalled playing at KU while with NC State during the 2024-25 season.
Still, it was a brief visit, and he didn’t get to explore much. He told The Star that he’s excited to check out the city and fully immerse himself.
Like the city of Lawrence, Parker’s teammates will also be brand new. As he decided where to transfer from Radford — his college stop after NC State — Parker knew there would be plenty of turnover with KU’s roster from last season.
Still, he was familiar with at least one player. Parker saw Tyran Stokes, the class of 2026’s No. 1 overall recruit, pick the Jayhawks over Kentucky and Oregon.
“I’d seen the young dude around in high school,” Parker told The Star in May. “I think he’s a talented young man. He does a lot on both sides of the floor. I think he’s like a Swiss-army knife. He does multiple things, like he passes well, he rebounds and he scores well. I think he’s a key factor going into the season, with the success of the team.
“I’m just looking forward to working with these young dudes, man.”
On this Jayhawks squad, Parker is a seasoned veteran. The one-time four-star recruit and 6-6 guard started his career at NC State. He was part of a team that reached the Final Four, starting in 12 games. Parker averaged 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds during the 2023-24 season.
After not playing much the next season, he decided to transfer to Radford. He admitted it was an opportunity to prove that he belonged in college basketball, even if it meant going down a level. And he had a career year.
Parker averaged 18.3 points and 5.3 rebounds for Radford last season. He shot 48.4% from the field, including 37.3% on 3-pointers.
Now, he comes to KU with three seasons of college basketball experience. Parker told The Star that he’s excited to mentor Stokes and KU’s other young players.
“It’s crazy to say I’m a vet now,” Parker said. “That’s kind of what my guy DJ Horn did with me, my freshman year. It’s just keep passing it down. I’ll be there for the young dudes if they need me. I’ve seen so much in the college game. I’ve got a lot of say-so in my head and just to give out knowledge … how things work at that level.”
