The latest intel on No. 1 overall recruit Tyran Stokes

Joe Tipton

Recruiting and Transfer Portal Reporter
Staff member
Jul 12, 2021
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Joe is this a UK is all in on Stokes kind of thing and are willing to pay what it takes? Will JMI hinder this?
I haven't confirmed if JMI will have a negative impact on this recruitment, but it's something you'd almost assume could be.

but yeah the NIL isn't an issue here for Kentucky
 
Jul 30, 2024
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Have there been any rumblings of character concerns around Stokes? I know there were incidents that prompted school change, but is Kentucky going all-in after these occurrences?
 
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Joe Tipton

Recruiting and Transfer Portal Reporter
Staff member
Jul 12, 2021
4,790
27,233
113
Have there been any rumblings of character concerns around Stokes? I know there were incidents that prompted school change, but is Kentucky going all-in after these occurrences?
I don't want to comment on Stokes' character here publicly. but what I can say is with recent events regarding Stokes, it has caused some level of concern, but thats across the board
 

buc puppet

All-Conference
Mar 22, 2004
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I don't want to comment on Stokes' character here publicly. but what I can say is with recent events regarding Stokes, it has caused some level of concern, but thats across the board
Not surprised by this. But I think Pope may be at a professional crossroads in regard to recruiting. Bringing in Stokes may be his dance with the devil and he may not have much of a choice but to do it.
 

travisbickle

Senior
Jan 4, 2022
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I don't want to comment on Stokes' character here publicly. but what I can say is with recent events regarding Stokes, it has caused some level of concern, but thats across the board
I know you have to be delicate about what you say but this seems to square with:

-Switching schools mid season
-New schools popping up out of the blue

Pope will take a PR hit with every top ranked recruit missed, so it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
 
Jul 30, 2024
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Not surprised by this. But I think Pope may be at a professional crossroads in regard to recruiting. Bringing in Stokes may be his dance with the devil and he may not have much of a choice but to do it.
If Pope can’t handle Brandon Garrison, I don’t think it would be a good idea to try to handle Stokes lol. He needs to go back to building to the strengths of his system.
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
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I'll address the elephant in the room:

Joe, are there any recruits that live OUTSIDE the state of Kentucky that want/willing to play for Mark Pope?
Even they don't want to play for Pope. But, rather, they want to play for UK/the program they grew up a fan of. Travis Perry didnt have much respect for Pope. According to UKortho, who knows the family.
 

BlueSince92

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
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but yeah the NIL isn't an issue here for Kentucky
I believe you and really appreciate all your responses here. But I’m once bitten, twice shy. So I also find myself wondering:

NIL isn’t an issue for this recruitment in Barnhartville? Or NIL isn’t an issue for this recruitment on Planet Earth? What with recent (admittedly anonymously sourced) reporting, I’m starting to suspect those are two very different places.
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
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Is it dramatic? Gillispie is in the same ballpark as Pope maybe but who else? Tubby was a mid recruiter by UK standards but light years ahead of Pope so far
He's not. He landed multiple out of state 5 stars. Something Pope hasn't done once. People will point to him offering middle schoolers. But forget, Orton, Patterson, Liggins, Jorts, Miller. 3 of those were 5 stars. Miller was a high 4 star.