Tyran Stokes signs multi-year NIL shoe deal with Nike

Tyran Stokes signs NIL deal with Nike - via Nike Basketball

Nike Basketball announced its Class of 2025 NIL athletes on Friday — and one of the new faces for the brand is of high interest to the Big Blue Nation.

Five-star wing Tyran Stokes, considered the No. 1 overall high school senior in the country, has inked a multi-year NIL shoe deal with Nike. Considering the University of Kentucky is a Nike school and the men’s basketball program is heavily recruiting Stokes, this is a notable development. Stokes is expected to make a college decision sometime before his high school season starts later this fall.

“Partnering with Nike means I’m joining a team, a family and a legacy,” Stokes said in Nike’s press release. “I’m going to be surrounded by high-level, talented people who will keep me working hard to be at the top of my game. I also want to work with Nike to connect with young athletes and give feedback on our footwear and apparel — not just from me, but from my community.”

Stokes is one of Nike’s three Class of 2025 NIL athletes, joining fellow five-stars Brandon McCoy and Aaliyah Chavez. McCoy has not pledged to a school yet, but Chavez is committed to Oklahoma women’s basketball. Jordan Brand, a subsidiary of Nike, represents the Sooners.

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BREAKING: Tyran Stokes, the #1 ranked Class of 2026 star, has signed a multi-year NIL shoe deal with Nike. 📄✍️

“Partnering with Nike means I’m joining a team, a family and a legacy,” said @Tyran_Stokes pic.twitter.com/2ZBSwB9RBU
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) October 3, 2025

Stokes’ recruitment has been kept very quiet, but it’s assumed he’s coming down the home stretch. The Louisville native has taken recent official visits to Kansas (April), Kentucky (June), Southern California (September), and Oregon (September). Gonzaga could also receive a visit before a decision is made. Oregon booster Phil Knight, who co-founded Nike, could make things more interesting for the Ducks, but it’s been Kansas — an adidas school — that’s been gaining momentum as of late.

All that being said, Kentucky is still assumed to be at or near the very top of Stokes’ leaderboard. Members of the UK coaching staff visited him out in California in person last month. We’re inching closer and closer to a decision date. Can Mark Pope and his staff (plus a little help from Nike) seal the deal?