According to ESPN’s Paul Biancardi, the consensus No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2026 is planning visits with Gonzaga, Oregon, and Arkansas. Tyran Stokes recently visited Kansas on April 18th and Louisville back on October 4th. He has a scheduled trip to Kentucky from Thursday, May 15th through Saturday, May 17th. No official date is set yet for the trip to the Pacific Northwest.
At 6-7 and 245 pounds, the five-star forward averaged 21.0 points on a 54 field goal percentage/30 three-point percentage/65 free throw percentage, 9.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game in his junior campaign with Notre Dame in Sherman Oaks, California. That’s the same high school that produced Dusty Stromer who now plays for Grand Canyon. Stokes previously played for Prolific Prep in Napa, California.
When attacking the rim, Stokes is a freight train due to his overall power and bulky size. His playmaking ability and rebounding gives him the potential to be the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft.
“Stokes has a college- and pro-ready frame blending excellent versatility, productivity and long-term potential. His rare combination of power, fitness and athleticism stood out from an early age. Stokes is an elite finisher in traffic with his physicality and explosiveness. His accurate passing doesn’t get enough credit, either.” – ESPN’s Paul Biancardi
The Zags are also targeting No. 55 Dean Rueckert (Timpview in Provo, Utah) and Sam Funches (Germantown in Madison, Mississippi) from the 2026 recruiting class. Rueckert is hearing mostly from Gonzaga, Stanford, BYU, Louisville, and Washington. He’s a 6-7 wing who looks to be a 3-and-D prospect at the next level.
For whatever reason, Funches isn’t even ranked in the ESPN 100. The four-star seven-footer was planning a visit to Spokane when the Zags hosted Pepperdine last February, but it was cancelled. Funches is predicted to be joining coach Chris Beard and Ole Miss but is considering Kansas and California as well.
As for Stokes, he’s being patient with his recruitment process and won’t be making a college decision any time soon. Gonzaga has had recent success with top recruits in their respective classes before. Take a look at Chet Holmgren (No. 1 in ESPN 100, Class of 2021) and Jalen Suggs (No. 6 in ESPN 100, Class of 2020). Both spent one season with the Zags before becoming NBA Top Five picks.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho
