Cal vs. Pope for the best player in high school basketball?
With the summer AAU circuit concluding, recruiting is about to heat back up for the Kentucky Wildcats.
That’s especially true when it comes to the recruitment of Tyran Stokes, a Louisville native who’s also ranked No. 1 overall in the class of 2026.
Kentucky has already hosted Stokes for an official visit back in June, but how strong of a contender are the Wildcats really?
Apparently, they’re at or near the top of Stokes’ list, at least according to one recruiting insider.
The other school making a strong push? John Calipari and his Arkansas Razorbacks.
“The two schools I continue to hear around Stokes are Kentucky and Arkansas,” On3’s Jamie Shaw says. “One source told me this week they feel like Kentucky is staking its claim, while also adding not to count our Calipari in a big recruitment.”
Now playing for Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, Stokes was born in Louisville and lived there until he was nine years old. The 6-foot-7, 245-pounder is ranked No. 1 overall in his class by Rivals, 247 Sports, and ESPN. He holds additional scholarship offers from Alabama, Houston, Auburn, Michigan, and UCLA, among many others.
Looks like we could be looking at the first major Mark Pope vs. John Calipari battle for an elite high school prospect.