Reports have always been that he’s been High on us and is the clear number one target of our class and has been since Pope has been here.
Stokes signs with Nike
- Thread starter chasingwildcat
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Ik Pope has been after him. I just haven’t seen anything really making me think we are in the lead. I see reports saying things one week then something the next. I seen we were in the lead for Caleb Wilson for months just for him to go to the wrong blue. I so hope he comes here. I’m not saying we aren’t in the lead. I hope we are. Idc if he’s the only freshman we sign.
Get him here. Any means necessary. He’s one you overpay for if you have to. Add some transfers with him and let’s roll!
Recruiting is a fickle beast, I just feel like we are in as good a position as any school.
I’m fighting hard to not let you get me too excited about him lol but I feel better after reading your post.
I tend to think we are getting Stokes now
If not, we will probably get Collins, my gut feeling is we are #1 for Collins now.
Pope will get his first big "fish" in high school recruiting in 26 class
As for other 2026 HS guys, if Pope can grab some, I am happy. If not, let us get 8-9 of our current team back and then grab some studs in transfer portal if Pope needs
I am not sure if Kentucky leads for others, things could change quickly.Probably #2/#3 for likes of Diane/Holt/Rippey/Howard. I like Anthony Thompson, but seems that Coach Pope prefers Stokes/Collins now
But I think Kentucky is #1 for both Stokes and Collins based on recent rumors. I hope to get both two, but probably it is Stokes or Collins
What’s the chances of landing Collins and Stokes? After looking into Collins he seems to be a great player also. I guess he slipped by me. Didn’t really hear of him until his recent visit. Surprising to me since he’s a highly rated recruit.
Is it one or the other in this situation or is Pope about to do something special.
I think it is one or the other, not both two.
We probably will have plenty guys in forward position already (Mo/Jelavic/Noah/Hawthorne and possibly Kam), I think it is unlikely we grab both two now. I think we have one spot in forward as of now (because oweh will leave)
But who knows, things could change. We thought Hawthorne would not come here because of playing time, but he still committed. Probably Collins is willing to share playing minute with a ton of other guys in similar position
What about Stokes and Caleb Holt. He’s really the other freshman I want. Ik nobody knows but still fun to see what yall think
Joe Tipton also says Kentucky is behind Bama for Holt
He also thinks Kansas is #2 for Stokes and still in the mix
I have no insider info, but based on rumors, I think Collins/Stokes is most gettable, for some other recruits, we are in great shape but not leading.
I expect a class with one of Collins/Stokes, at most one of Howard/Holt/Diane/Rippey, probably additional development guy we don't know yet. 1-3 guy class
Collins looks like a stereotype Pope player, diligent, calm, humble.
The thing is that if we somehow didn’t land Stokes that frees up 3M dollars to make a serious push for 2-3 of the other ones.
Not sure he's a "generational" talent at all. Good chance to be the best in this class though for sure. Definitely want him in KY blue.
Not sure he's a "generational" talent at all. Good chance to be the best in this class though for sure.
Agree.
Agree.
I think we're in better shape with Holt than most people think. Either us or Alabama or in my opinion. I also have a better feeling now than I once did and it could be that Stokes would be ours by the 1st of November
I’m definitely excited, but I also know in NIL era things change fast. Seems like our offer is top notch and that’s all we can ask as fans.
Idk honestly, my gut says take the best player. It depends on how deep the class is and how close guys rated 4-9 compared to the top 3. Is it AD vs a Cousins at #4 or is it #4 Skal Labbessier.
All of this sounds good, but I still can't help but feel he goes to some random school. Just a feeling that I hope is wrong.
I believe he's going to be a cat
Would be the best f u to the rest of the country from Pope. Everybody even a lot of us saying Pope can’t recruit Pope can’t recruit.
Then front page of espn(number one recruit in the country commits to Kentucky)
Then front page of espn(number one recruit in the country commits to Kentucky)
Just watched a full game with Stokes going against Rippy I got to be honest Stokes looked very ordinary but Rippy did not look ordinary at all he won the game in a close one but Stokes looked kind of like Justin Edwards at times
Now that they can be paid, I have no idea why anyone would go to Kansas. Get paid tons of money to be in a nice location or get paid tons of money to be in the middle of nowhere.
THREE MIL for a high school player? It is getting bananas.
Agree with this. He's a great player, obviously. He just isn't guaranteed to go #1 overall like some in the past have been.
Idk about generational. IMO I do think he will be the best player in college basketball next year.
I think he's awesome, but I'm not even sure he will be the best Freshman next year. I think there are a few that will be in that conversation, with Caleb Holt being one.
Stokes not even visiting Arkansas
Arkansas also do not recruit him hard for a while
If you look anything up about Stokes it still has Arkansas as a dark horse. Them and Louisville.