Tyran Stokes dunks from the FT line as headliner of SLAM Summer Classic -- among other UK targets

The No. 1 recruit in the country — and Kentucky‘s top target in 2026 — will be competing tonight under the bright lights of historic Rucker Park. Tyran Stokes joins a star-studded roster alongside several other names of interest for Big Blue Nation in the SLAM Summer Classic Volume 7, presented by NBA 2K26.

28 of the top high school basketball recruits in the country are in New York City for the event, with 14 boys and 14 girls from the classes of 2026 and 2027 set to participate.

Among them? Six players with Kentucky offers, including Stokes, five-star guards Jordan Smith Jr., Deron Rippey Jr. and Brandon McCoy Jr., five-star wing Christian Collins and four-star wing Qayden Samuels.

Check out the complete boys roster:

• Tyran Stokes (Class of 2026)
• Jordan Smith Jr. (Class of 2026)
• Qayden Samuels (Class of 2026)
• Deron Rippey Jr. (Class of 2026)
• Brandon McCoy Jr. (Class of 2026)
• Caleb Gaskins (Class of 2026)
• Dylan Mingo (Class of 2026)
• JJ Andrews (Class of 2026)
• Christian Collins (Class of 2026)
• Jaxon Richardson (Class of 2026)
• Kendre Harrison (Class of 2026)
• Ant Brown Jr. (Class of 2026)
• Nasir Anderson (Class of 2027)
• Anderson Diaz (Class of 2027)

As for the girls, 2026 five-star post Olivia Vukosa and five-star guard Trinity Jones, along with 2027 five-star guard Ivanna Wilson Manyacka, all hold Kentucky offers from Kenny Brooks.

The full roster:

• Ivanna Wilson Manyacka (Class of 2027)
• Trinity Jones (Class of 2026)
• Qandace Samuels (Class of 2027)
• Taylor Sofilkanich (Class of 2026)
• Ryan Carter (Class of 2027)
• Autumn Fleary (Class of 2026)
• GG Banks (Class of 2027)
• Olivia Jones (Class of 2026)
• Brihanna Crittendon (Class of 2026)
• Morgan Stewart (Class of 2026)
• Olivia Vukosa (Class of 2026)
• Jemini Mitchell (Class of 2027)
• Cydnee Bryant (Class of 2026)
• Jerzy Robinson (Class of 2026)

The girls’ game tipped off at 5 PM ET while the boys’ game is set for 7:45 PM ET, live on the free-to-download NBA App.

Before things got rolling at Rucker Park on August 18, the players have been hanging around with SLAM, participating in various competitions — including a dunk contest, one that saw Tyran Stokes throw down a vicious punch from the free-throw line.

It’s a dunk you have to see for yourself:

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Stokes also participated in the two-on-two competition, but got knocked out with teammate Jerzy Robinson on a filthy stepback three from Anderson Diaz. Diaz, alongside Morgan Stewart, would go on to win the whole thing.

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Outside of on-court activities, Nike also presented players with new sneakers — the Ja 3s and Sabrina 3s.

Stokes was the model for both, the Nike Sabrina 3 released late last month and Ja Morant’s signature sneaker hitting shelves on August 21.

Participants also got to try out the new NBA 2K26 video game, set to be released on September 5.

Not a bad day at the office for the top-ranked prospect in the country — and all of the other Kentucky targets in attendance on the boys and girls side.

We’ll see if Stokes can pull off the win at the historic streetball venue. Make sure you tune in.