Guess for Tyran Stokes

[chasingwildcat]

I am pretty sure, if not for Nike, he may have committed to Kansas/Louisville already... And we may not even be in his top 3.

Things could go either way. Could be another Dybansa situation (silently committed to BYU but flirting with other schools), could also be his mother scouting Louisville/Kansas programs. We will only know after his decision.

Another possibility is that Stokes is ready to commit to an Adidas school (namely Kansas), but is persuading the Nike part to accept him going to a school of a rival brand. And now Nike is trying to stop Stokes, but Nike may compromise in the end.

His mom seems to not like KENTUCKY at all, does not care about Kentucky basketball games last season, and went to a Louisville game while Kentucky was beating #1 Purdue. This could be a factor.

I am now 50/50 or even 40/60 on Stokes’ chance of coming here.

If Stokes comes here, I will welcome and cheer for him. I think his coming is not because of the “name in front of the chest,” but just business, different from many of Pope’s players. I will still cheer for him regardless, as he is fighting for Kentucky.

If Stokes does not come here, it is not the end of the world. I think Christian Collins is pretty gettable. My gut feeling is he is waiting on Stokes’ decision. If Stokes goes to UK, he will go to UCLA (another current leader). If Stokes goes to other schools, he will go to Kentucky. I am pretty high on Collins; he reminds me of Caleb Wilson with no notorious look-at-me personality, and he seems a perfect player for Mark Pope’s system. I believe he will be a huge contributor in year 1.

 

[JwUKFan11]

Guys sign with a company and play for a school that isn't that same company all the time. That aspect is way overblown.

Nike , Adidas, etc are signing them early in hopes they are great in college and go to the NBA to be stars. That is when they will make their investment back.

 

[chasingwildcat]

Guys sign with a company and play for a school that isn't that same company all the time. That aspect is way overblown.

Nike , Adidas, etc are signing them early in hopes they are great in college and go to the NBA to be stars. That is when they will make their investment back.

Yes

Adidas pushes their players harder than Nike to sign with schools of own brand

But for Nike, it will still look ugly for its signed top player in the class to go to school with rival brand. It will make negative effect of brand image

So Nike still will try to persuade Stokes to sign with Nike schools, but Nike may comprise in the end if Stokes insists on going yo to Adidas school (Kansas). It depends on how Nike evaluates long term reward of Stokes.

I have said a possibility that Stokes is ready to commit to Adidas school (Kansas) but is negotiating with Nike part now

 

[JwUKFan11]

Yes

Adidas pushes their players harder than Nike to sign with schools of own brand

But for Nike, it will still look ugly for its signed top player in the class to go to school with rival brand. It will make negative effect of brand image

So Nike still will try to persuade Stokes to sign with Nike schools, but Nike may comprise in the end if Stokes insists on going yo to Adidas school (Kansas). It depends on how Nike evaluates long term reward of Stokes.

I have said a possibility that Stokes is ready to commit to Adidas school (Kansas) but is negotiating with Nike part now

You're looking way too deep into it. They don't care nearly as much as you are making it out to be. it will still look ugly for its signed top player in the class to go to school with rival brand

Nope, if that was the case, they would have waited to sign him or made him an offer conditional on his school choice.

 

[rivercatinfl]

I am pretty sure, if not for Nike, he may have committed to Kansas/Louisville already... And we may not even be in his top 3.

Things could go either way. Could be another Dybansa situation (silently committed to BYU but flirting with other schools), could also be his mother scouting Louisville/Kansas programs. We will only know after his decision.

Another possibility is that Stokes is ready to commit to an Adidas school (namely Kansas), but is persuading the Nike part to accept him going to a school of a rival brand. And now Nike is trying to stop Stokes, but Nike may compromise in the end.

His mom seems to not like KENTUCKY at all, does not care about Kentucky basketball games last season, and went to a Louisville game while Kentucky was beating #1 Purdue. This could be a factor.

I am now 50/50 or even 40/60 on Stokes’ chance of coming here.

If Stokes comes here, I will welcome and cheer for him. I think his coming is not because of the “name in front of the chest,” but just business, different from many of Pope’s players. I will still cheer for him regardless, as he is fighting for Kentucky.

If Stokes does not come here, it is not the end of the world. I think Christian Collins is pretty gettable. My gut feeling is he is waiting on Stokes’ decision. If Stokes goes to UK, he will go to UCLA (another current leader). If Stokes goes to other schools, he will go to Kentucky. I am pretty high on Collins; he reminds me of Caleb Wilson with no notorious look-at-me personality, and he seems a perfect player for Mark Pope’s system. I believe he will be a huge contributor in year 1.

Smells like Kansas to me.

 

[chasingwildcat]

You're looking way too deep into it. They don't care nearly as much as you are making it out to be. it will still look ugly for its signed top player in the class to go to school with rival brand

Nope, if that was the case, they would have waited to sign him or made him an offer conditional on his school choice.

No, it is the case. It definitely has correlation. There is a reason Adidas sent guys to its brand (DP, Mikel, Kinney...). Also Nike did not let Adidas' top player DP, playing in Nike Hoop Summit

 

[chasingwildcat]

There's another possibility someone else mentioned on other board is that UK/Pope silently already moved on

Christian Collins recently cancelled his Tennessee visit depsite the rumor he likes Ament a lot.

 

[true-blue1]

I hope I’m wrong but I don’t have a good feeling at all with the Stokes recruitment.

 

[Kentucky15]

You're looking way too deep into it. They don't care nearly as much as you are making it out to be. it will still look ugly for its signed top player in the class to go to school with rival brand

Nope, if that was the case, they would have waited to sign him or made him an offer conditional on his school choice.

. Nike signed kids go to Nike schools. He’s not going to play for adidas that would be totally out of the norm if he did. They’re investing majorly in Stokes. They will want him at a Nike school. What Nike signed athletes have ended up at an adidas school?

Have we ever seen that? I haven’t kept up in a long time in that front. When I was more invested in the recruiting scene I don’t remember ever seeing it.

 

[Bruce9]

I hope I’m wrong but I don’t have a good feeling at all with the Stokes recruitment.

Weve heard nothing different from Tipton on this,he said Kentucky had the lead,so I'm sure he will tell us if there is anything different

 

[JwUKFan11]

. Nike signed kids go to Nike schools. He’s not going to play for adidas that would be totally out of the norm if he did. They’re investing majorly in Stokes. They will want him at a Nike school. What Nike signed athletes have ended up at an adidas school?

Have we ever seen that? I haven’t kept up in a long time in that front. When I was more investing in the recruiting scene I don’t remember ever seeing it.

Dylan Harper last year. “Couldn’t be more wrong” then asks a question before even knowing lmao

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

. Nike signed kids go to Nike schools. He’s not going to play for adidas that would be totally out of the norm if he did. They’re investing majorly in Stokes. They will want him at a Nike school. What Nike signed athletes have ended up at an adidas school?

Have we ever seen that? I haven’t kept up in a long time in that front. When I was more invested in the recruiting scene I don’t remember ever seeing it.

Idk man. I’ve been saying Kansas. He just don’t feel like a UK player.

 

[Kentucky15]

Guys this has played out like this over and over and over. It was obvious when Kentucky was said to jump out front they would start to play games and this is no different than every other time that happens. I don’t understand at this point why people do not realize that whoever is said to be the leader is typically going to get trolled somewhere down the line for suspense. Not even considering the business side of it now. Agents control these moves, not the parents. And they will use Kentucky’s name to make the bids go up.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

so do the experts with the crystal ball **** get a red x by their name when he goes somewhere else or will they still have a 99.9%

 

[Kentucky15]

Dylan Harper last year. “Couldn’t be more wrong” then asks a question before even knowing lmao

I saw that it looked like I was meaning kids going to different schools and removed it for that reason. That’s not what you couldn’t be more wrong about. Did Harper sign with Nike and go to an adidas school?

Nike absolutely 100% wants kids they sign to go to those schools. This is not something that’s debatable. That’s how those companies roll and always have. Now whether it’s been happening more I don’t know, as I said. But to pretend they don’t care is absolutely untrue. That’s what you’re wrong about.

 

[Kentucky15]

Idk man. I’ve been saying Kansas. He just don’t feel like a UK player.

I have that same thought. He looks like a Kansas player to me. He’s not going to losiville, they simply don’t get guys like that. When Kentucky and Kansas are on you, very rare for them to win that recruiting battle for a kid ranked this high. But it’s business now, so who knows.

 

[chasingwildcat]

Dylan Harper last year. “Couldn’t be more wrong” then asks a question before even knowing lmao

Sorry, Rutgers is now Nike school. And when Harper/Bailey play, Rutgers did not sign contract with Adidas. And it is easy to assume when Bailey/Harper decided, Rutgers and Nike were already deeply negotiated.

And Harper/Bailey duo was opening gift for Rutgers becoming Nike school.

You are not right on this, bro

https://www.app.com/story/sports/college/rutgers/2024/10/22/rutgers-sports-no-longer-under-contract-with-adidas-nike-deal-next/75563806007/

Rutgers is no longer under contract with Adidas, a school official said Tuesday, and has not been since the end of the 2022-2023 school year – a fact confirmed by an Asbury Park Press open-records request. Since that time, Adidas has been outfitting the Scarlet Knights at a discounted price but without a contract.

 

[BlueBlood96Cat]

I have that same thought. He looks like a Kansas player to me. He’s not going to losiville, they simply don’t get guys like that. When Kentucky and Kansas are on you, very rare for them to win that recruiting battle for a kid ranked this high. But it’s business now, so who knows.

Seems his mom is high on Louisville and I’m sure he cares what she thinks. I’ve been saying if Louisville was on his top five then they are a contender and everyone was saying no way. I hope he goes to Kentucky but I don’t see it.

 

[chasingwildcat]

Seems his mom is high on Louisville and I’m sure he cares what she thinks. I’ve been saying if Louisville was on his top five then they are a contender and everyone was saying no way. I hope he goes to Kentucky but I don’t see it.

Again, if it is still pre NIL era, he would already be Louisville/Kansas player

As of now , the things could be more complicated because of NIke

 

[JwUKFan11]

I saw that it looked like I was meaning kids going to different schools and removed it for that reason. That’s not what you couldn’t be more wrong about. Did Harper sign with Nike and go to an adidas school?

Nike absolutely 100% wants kids they sign to go to those schools. This is not something that’s debatable. That’s how those companies roll and always have. Now whether it’s been happening more I don’t know, as I said. But to pretend they don’t care is absolutely untrue. That’s what you’re wrong about.

Never said they didn’t care, but that aspect is way overblown.

 

[Kentucky15]

Seems his mom is high on Louisville and I’m sure he cares what she thinks. I’ve been saying if Louisville was on his top five then they are a contender and everyone was saying no way. I hope he goes to Kentucky but I don’t see it.

Louisville will have to win the wage war. Because top players like him don’t go to Louisville. The don’t have the national bang and are completely overshadowed. Not saying he couldn’t be the one, it’s possible he just likes something about it. But the coach is 4’2 and they Louisville gets no national attention. Maybe he doesn’t care about any of that and of course the money is going to determine it in the end. But I’m not thinking he’s going to Louisville, they’re probably using them to get UK to go higher.

 

[Anon1751561414]

She was probably there to watch Kansas... Not good at all

 

[Kentucky15]

Never said they didn’t care, but that aspect is way overblown.

But it’s not at all overblown. Nearly every single time a kid signs with Nike they go to Nike. It’s business, it’s easily understood from a business standpoint. These brands are big on their advertising gear Nike 100% would not like him wearing Adidas while he’s in Nike commercials lol. I have no idea what you’re not getting. That’s business 101 ESPECIALLY with apparel companies like Nike.

I’m lazy did Harper sign with Nike in high school go then go Adidas?

 

[chasingwildcat]

But it’s not at all overblown. Nearly every single time a kid signs with Nike they go to Nike. It’s business, it’s easily understood from a business standpoint. These brands are big on their advertising gear Nike 100% would not like him wearing Adidas while he’s in Nike commercials lol. I have no idea what you’re not getting. That’s business 101 ESPECIALLY with apparel companies like Nike.

I’m lazy did Harper sign with Nike in high school go then go Adidas?

See my post bro

Sorry, Rutgers is now Nike school. And when Harper/Bailey play, Rutgers did not sign contract with Adidas. And it is easy to assume when Bailey/Harper decided, Rutgers and Nike were already deeply negotiated.

And Harper/Bailey duo was opening gift for Rutgers becoming Nike school.

You are not right on this, bro

https://www.app.com/story/sports/college/rutgers/2024/10/22/rutgers-sports-no-longer-under-contract-with-adidas-nike-deal-next/75563806007/

Rutgers is no longer under contract with Adidas, a school official said Tuesday, and has not been since the end of the 2022-2023 school year – a fact confirmed by an Asbury Park Press open-records request. Since that time, Adidas has been outfitting the Scarlet Knights at a discounted price but without a contract.

 

[JwUKFan11]

But it’s not at all overblown. Nearly every single time a kid signs with Nike they go to Nike. It’s business, it’s easily understood from a business standpoint. These brands are big on their advertising gear Nike 100% would not like him wearing Adidas while he’s in Nike commercials lol. I have no idea what you’re not getting. That’s business 101 ESPECIALLY with apparel companies like Nike.

I’m lazy did Harper sign with Nike in high school go then go Adidas?

Pretty sure Karter Knox also signed an adidas NIL deal and then committed to UK and then Arkansas. Not a lock he goes to a Nike school.

Feel free to be with OP though, crazy talk about how his mom doesn’t like UK because she went to the UL game. Would love to see some reasoning on those mental gymnastics.

 

[chasingwildcat]

Pretty sure Karter Knox also signed an adidas NIL deal and then committed to UK and then Arkansas. Not a lock he goes to a Nike school.

Feel free to be with OP though, crazy talk about how his mom doesn’t like UK because she went to the UL game. Would love to see some reasoning on those mental gymnastics.

Tyran Stokes’ mother how much she watched Kentucky during the 2024-25 season.

“You know we’re from Louisville, right? Louisvillians don’t really watch a lot of Kentucky basketball,” she said. “This year is my year to watch college sports, for sure.”

 

[DraftCat]

Maybe I'm just getting old but players going to certain schools IMO doesn't matter like it use too.

 

[Crazy4Blue]

I think that he ultimately goes to his first love which is Louisville. I wish we would have made Thompson our biggest priority. I really think that we could have got him. Now I wish we would prioritize Baba Oladotun over Stokes.

 

[Kentucky15]

.

Pretty sure Karter Knox also signed an adidas NIL deal and then committed to UK and then Arkansas. Not a lock he goes to a Nike school.

Feel free to be with OP though, crazy talk about how his mom doesn’t like UK because she went to the UL game. Would love to see some reasoning on those mental gymnastics.

Are you retarded? Name a person who signed with Nike out of high school and played at adidas? Your example was hilariously awful. I’ve asked 3 times now if it’s never happened say it’s never happened. The mouthy nonsense when you’ve said such stupid things isn’t making it better.

tell us more about how Nike really doesn’t mind too much that they’re paying a guy millions of dollars for his NIL and really doesn’t think too much about him wearing adidas everyday. lol. I can tell you are an employee not the employer. Nike especially has always pushed hard for them to go to Nike schools it’s COMMON knowledge in the basketball world. i wouldn’t be arrogant and you are currently dying on this hill BTW.

I’m wrong a lot just say yes I said something stupid / didn’t think it through. Not a big deal. But if it’s still the way it’s always been, then that’s 100% of the time they go to Nike schools when they sign with Nike.

 

[chasingwildcat]

Pretty sure Karter Knox also signed an adidas NIL deal and then committed to UK and then Arkansas. Not a lock he goes to a Nike school.

Feel free to be with OP though, crazy talk about how his mom doesn’t like UK because she went to the UL game. Would love to see some reasoning on those mental gymnastics.

Knox is rare exceptions. Most people know he is Calipari's guy from early on...

There will be exceptions, but yes brand has huge influence on kid's decisions especially in NIL era, and kid is way more likely to go to the school of his signed brand than schools of other brands.

There will be exception data points, but statistically, brand definitely had correlation with where the kid will go.

 

[chasingwildcat]

Are you retarded? Name a person who signed with Nike out of high school and played at adidas? Your example was hilariously awful. I’ve asked 3 times now if it’s never happened say it’s never happened. The mouthy nonsense when you’ve said such stupid things isn’t making it better.

tell us more about how Nike really doesn’t mind too much that they’re paying a guy millions of dollars for his NIL and really doesn’t think too much about him wearing adidas everyday. lol. I can tell you are an employee not the employer. Nike especially has always pushed hard for them to go to Nike schools it’s COMMON knowledge in the basketball world. i wouldn’t be arrogant and you are currently dying on this hill BTW.

I’m wrong a lot just say yes I said something stupid / didn’t think it through. Not a big deal. But if it’s still the way it’s always been, then that’s 100% of the time they go to Nike schools when they sign with Nike.

He and I have different opinions. I just say Harper and Bailey signed to a future Nike school at that time. And Rutgers were not in any contract with Adidas when Harper signing.

 

[Kentucky15]

Knox is rare exceptions. Most people know he is Calipari's guy from early on...

There will be exceptions, but yes brand has huge influence on kid's decisions especially in NIL era, and kid is way more likely to go to the school of his signed brand than schools of other brands.

There will be exception data points, but statistically, brand definitely had correlation with where the kid will go.

And Nike has always been known to be strict with it. Of course a guy can sign with New balance and go Nike. But specifically Nike is known to lock that kind of sht up. It’s always been that way. I’m not even going to look, because his inability to find one (he’s clearly looking and doesn’t appear to be able to) tells the entire story.

I meant here should be many examples of this happening because like you said sometimes it’s the home team who’s adidas, sometimes they play for the coach, I mean if there isn’t one single example then Nike almost assuredly tells them go Nike or no deal.

 

[Kentucky15]

He and I have different opinions. I just say Harper and Bailey signed to a future Nike school at that time. And Rutgers were not in any contract with Adidas when Harper signing.

Right so that’s not really an example. I just want one player who signed with Nike out of high school and went to a school that was clearly going to be adidas before and after they were gone. The fact that it’s this few tells its own story. That’s all I’m really telling the guy but he’s not getting it lol.

 

[JwUKFan11]

Are you retarded? Name a person who signed with Nike out of high school and played at adidas? Your example was hilariously awful. I’ve asked 3 times now if it’s never happened say it’s never happened. The mouthy nonsense when you’ve said such stupid things isn’t making it better.

tell us more about how Nike really doesn’t mind too much that they’re paying a guy millions of dollars for his NIL and really doesn’t think too much about him wearing adidas everyday. lol. I can tell you are an employee not the employer. Nike especially has always pushed hard for them to go to Nike schools it’s COMMON knowledge in the basketball world. i wouldn’t be arrogant and you are currently dying on this hill BTW.

I’m wrong a lot just say yes I said something stupid / didn’t think it through. Not a big deal. But if it’s still the way it’s always been, then that’s 100% of the time they go to Nike schools when they sign with Nike.

You're a complete idiot. Have been for years, which is why you were banned or just disappeared for so long. Gave you a few examples and told you it mattered, but not nearly in the way OP had in his "Guess".

I'm just going to block you, Morg, but please continue bragging on a UK forum about how you knocked somebody off a ladder or whatever psycho nonsense you went on about last week. What a weirdo.

 

[Kentucky15]

Tyran Stokes’ mother how much she watched Kentucky during the 2024-25 season.

“You know we’re from Louisville, right? Louisvillians don’t really watch a lot of Kentucky basketball,” she said. “This year is my year to watch college sports, for sure.”

It’s all for suspense. But hey, **** happens. I throw comments made during recruiting in the trash tho.

 

[Kentucky15]

You're a complete idiot. Have been for years, which is why you were banned or just disappeared for so long. Gave you a few examples and told you it mattered, but not nearly in the way OP had in his "Guess".

I'm just going to block you, Morg, but please continue bragging on a UK forum about how you knocked somebody off a ladder or whatever psycho nonsense you went on about last week. What a weirdo.

okay that settles the first question lol. This guy is a tool and always has been good lord. No offense but what a puss. And an angry puss, you are always kind of angry. Might be a mood disorder, should look into that.

Nike wanting Nike kids to go to Nike is overblown. lol. Pretty much settles his level right there.

You didn’t post any examples that I can see unless I misunderstood your post. NIKE TO ADIDAS. that officially was adidas and was always adidas. Blocking me doesn’t make you right. You looked and looked and looked and couldn’t hardly find a thing lol. 10’s of thousands of recruits and this is what you came up with?

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I'm not sure if we get Stokes or not, but at some point, Pope will need to land an elite freshman to at least promote the idea that he's capable of doing so. Pitino landed one fairly quickly by year four in Rodrick Rhodes when he came here (Mashburn wasn't a top 20 kid). And that was with two years of probation, so it was really in year #2 of the post-probation era.

I'm actually giving Pope the same timeline - by year three or four, start landing a top 5 guy consistently.

I also don't think landing an elite guy in this current class is necessary from a competitive level, but it would be from an optics level.

 

[Eastkybball]

It would be a great commitment for our program and the future for other top recruits. To be honest though I don’t like Stokes attitude at all. Too selfish to wear the Kentucky jersey and his game is limited from what I’ve seen. He can take it to the rack and finish strong but can he do this in sec play? Also is he coachable? And how much of our NIL will it take to get this guy? Whereas we can keep a majority of returning players and get a huge experienced talent in the portal. I love the way coach Pope is putting together our rosters. From the looks of it he wants 10 high quality players who can compete in practice.

 

[TFCat11]

He’s going to the highest bidder, plain and simple. I don’t believe Pope values freshmen the way Self does.

 

[Kentucky15]

I'm not sure if we get Stokes or not, but at some point, Pope will need to land an elite freshman to at least promote the idea that he's capable of doing so. Pitino landed one fairly quickly by year four in Rodrick Rhodes when he came here (Mashburn wasn't a top 20 kid). At that was with two years of probation, so it was really in year #2 of the post-probation era.

I actually giving Pope the same timeline - by year three or four, start landing a top 5 guy consistently.

I also don't think landing an elite guy in this current class is necessary from a competitive level, but it would be from an optics level.

Yea he needs to land an elite frosh to show it’s not just a Calipari thing it’s a Kentucky thing. We’re still the place of the pros. Duke is trying its best to erase us from that mantle. They want to be the dominant force in college basketball. We need to continue it.