NCAA Basketball Recruiting: 7 early teams to watch for No. 1 class of 2026 forward Tyran Stokes

Louisville Cardinals

Although Stokes now lives in California, he’s originally from Louisville, Kentucky. That alone will make them a contender for the 5-star prospect and the obvious appeal is the player coming home to build the program back into being a national contender.

It’s an easier sell to make now, with the Cardinals changing coaches. New HC Pat Kelsey had a strong opening offseason but now, it needs to transition into on-the-court success and getting out of the basement in the ACC. But if there isn’t a massive improvement in the win-loss column, it’ll be hard to land someone like Stokes.

North Carolina Tar Heels

There’s enough of a sample size with Coach Hubert Davis for top prospects to trust him, both in terms of development and being able to win at the college level. The team has a pair of incoming 5-star prospects in Drake Powell and Ian Jackson, who may both be “one and done” to the NBA level.

The projected starting forward for UNC is Ven-Allen Lubin, a transfer from Vanderbilt who has two years left. So Stokes would be able to slide in two years from now and be the focal point since star guard RJ Davis will be gone as well.