Could Mark Pope hit one out of the park or strike out on the nation’s No. 1 total recruit, Tyran Stokes? We know he’s going to go down swinging a technique or one other.
Stokes has a closing three of Kentucky, Kansas and Oregon with a dedication coming sooner reasonably than later. Depending on who you ask, any of the three could possibly be seen as the favourite — or trending towards favourite standing — and that’s simply as the Louisville native likes it. The child likes preserving the thriller alive, just lately seen sporting adidas gear as a Nike athlete, suggesting the Jayhawks could possibly be the selection, together with getting a tattoo whereas watching outdated sport movie for the Wildcats and throwing up an “O” for the Ducks on one in all many TikTok Lives.
As Stokes weighs his choices, nevertheless, Pope is making an attempt to make that alternative simple for him by pushing to rent one of many high recruit’s closest mentors.
KSR has discovered that three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford was formally supplied a job on Pope’s employees in current weeks. Crawford, who’s an assistant at Rainier Beach HS the place Stokes is a senior, initially turned down the supply earlier than having second ideas on the decision. The Kentucky head coach, in the meantime, has continued to push, armed with a pitch of full recruiting autonomy and the possibility to proceed working with the possible No. 1 decide forward of the 2027 NBA Draft.
We broke the news on KSR+, and Matt Jones talked about it on radio to open Friday’s present — the place he acknowledged the dream continues to be very a lot alive for the Wildcats.
“Kentucky two weeks ago offered him that final assistant coach position,” Jones said on KSR. “He turned them down, then they came back about a week ago and said, ‘Will you reconsider?’ And now, apparently, he is actually really reconsidering.”
One hang-up? Crawford is at present an analyst for NBA on NBC and is in the midst of playoff protection. It’s not one thing he can drop on the fly to pursue his future in teaching. Will these timelines align with Stokes doubtlessly days away from a dedication? Does he come with out affirmation Crawford will likely be becoming a member of him, or vice versa? There are a number of transferring elements at play right here, and there’s definitely no assure any of it will get executed, however you must love Pope’s artistic efforts with the highest prize of the 2026 class — somebody who may in the end make or break his future in Lexington.
“Why does it matter? Well, A) I think you would add a coolness factor that — I think we could all agree, maybe Mark Pope is not the coolest guy in the world. But B) he’s very close with Tyran Stokes,” he continued. “I actually think part of why you’re trying to hire Crawford is to be the final piece that could get Tyran Stokes to actually come here. I would want him either way.”
The intel is in every single place on the place he’s gonna go — once more, there are rumblings with all three faculties — however does Kentucky really have an opportunity? They apparently suppose so.
“I feel the web has given up too rapidly on him. I’m not saying we’re going to get him, I do not know, however I’ll inform you — UK, nonetheless, as of yesterday, thinks they’ll get him. They’re nonetheless holding, ready, making an attempt to make it occur. Now they consider — or at the very least they did consider — that he would determine one thing by the tip of this week. Looking on the calendar, that’s in the present day. I feel if he doesn’t, then UK may sooner or later simply should go, ‘Look, we can’t hold ready.’
“But I do think they think they have a shot.”
Pulling the Jamal Crawford rabbit out of Pope’s hat would go a great distance.
