The 2025-26 season ended in heartbreak for the Kansas Jayhawks as Bill Self's squad lost in the round of 32 to St. John's on a buzzer-beating layup. It marked the end of a rather weird and loud campaign from a media perspective, given star guard Darryn Peterson's constant string of injuries that forced him to miss 11 games and leave early in a handful more.
But as fans and coaches alike turn the page toward the 2026-27 season, the hype is increasing for this makeshift roster with improvement both in top-tier talent and depth down the roster. The Jayhawks have a multitude of quality role players and starters, but above them all is Tyran Stokes. His commitment to play at the University of Kansas just a few weeks ago marked the second straight year Self has landed the No. 1 overall high school prospect.
And from Stokes' standpoint, he doesn't seem the type to miss a lot of games, as Peterson did, for reasons and issues many believed to be lesser than they really were. Stokes from my assertion won't be the level of polished scorer Peterson was, as the newly drafted Utah Jazz should be a consistent 20-plus point per game scorer by his first pro season. But other than that, Stokes is the more well-rounded player and a guy who fits better within Self's system and style.
Tyran Stokes has the potential to have a much larger impact than Darryn Peterson in his time at KU
During his senior year of Rainier Beach High School in Washington, Stokes led his team to a 29-1 record and a 3A state title. He averaged 31-13-6 on 53% shooting and four steals per game. Stokes was making his competition look silly on the court, and at a solid 6'7", 230 lbs, he is a far more imposing athlete than Peterson, who was 6'6", and just 200 lbs with limited athleticism.
While Stokes may not be as seasoned a scorer as Peterson in terms of getting to his spots on the floor, he scans the court with ease, can playmake, and gets downhill at will. Stokes can get hot from beyond the arc in the blink of an eye, and has a mentality that I think will meld with Bill Self's approach seamlessly.
It's not often that a team is blessed with two straight premier talents. Self had it last year and did his best to string together a season, minus his best player. But now with Stokes fully committed with a strong team around him, Self has to make this year count.
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