Top prospect Tyran Stokes turned heads with social-media post after Bill Self news
Basketball fans in Kentucky and Oregon may have gotten some bad news Wednesday night.
KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self announced he was returning for the 2026-27 season, a move that affects the race to land top recruit Tyran Stokes.
Stokes, a five-star forward from Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, has cut his list of potential schools to Kansas, Kentucky and Oregon. Had Self decided on retirement, it likely would have hindered the Jayhawks’ chances of landing Stokes.
But Self’s decision to continue coaching has given KU a leg-up in the Stokes Sweepstakes. At least that is what Kansas fans are hoping is the case.
Stokes fueled that talk among KU supporters with his message on X after Self made his announcement. It was a single emoji: a hushed face. 😯
A number of Jayhawks fans responded to Stokes’ message, as did Kentucky supporters.
“Welcome to Kansas young man,” one fan wrote.
“ROCK CHALK BACK TO BACK NUMBER ONE PICKS,” another wrote.
Another shared this: “Rock chalk tyran… you know the move.”
And then there was this: “You know what to do COME PLAY FOR COACH SELF ON HIS LAST RIDE!!!”
This is a bit more of what KU fans were sharing on X...
