LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes has been named to the 20-member 2027 NABC Division I Player of the Year Preseason Watch List, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) released today.
Stokes is looking to become the fourth Jayhawk to win the NABC Player of the Year joining Drew Gooden (2002), Nick Collison (2003), and Frank Mason III (2017).
In Kansas’ three exhibition games, Stokes led KU in scoring at 18.7 points per contest and rebounding with a 7.0 per game average. From Louisville, Kentucky, Stokes had 27 points and eight rebounds against No. 2 Duke on Oct. 25.
Earlier this month, Stokes was named the Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year and was one of 10 selections by the coaches on the Preseason All-Big 12 team. Additionally, his name appears on numerous preseason All-America teams and national player of the year watch lists heading into the 2026-27 season.
Stokes is Kansas’ second-consecutive No. 1 national recruit, joining Darryn Peterson from last year. A 2026 McDonald’s All-American, Stokes averaged 31.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 4.0 steals in leading Rainier Beach to a 29-1 record and the Washington 3A state title. Stokes is the fourth No. 1 national recruit to play for head coach Bill Self at Kansas, joining Peterson, Andrew Wiggins (2013) and Josh Jackson (2016).
The 2027 NABC Division I Player of the Year – to be selected by a nationwide vote of Division I head coaches at the conclusion of the regular season – will be announced the week of the 2027 Men’s Final Four. Former Duke star Cameron Boozer received the award last season.
The NABC Division I Player of the Year award has been presented every season since 1974-75, and is the only national player of the year honor selected by the sport’s head coaches.
No. 17 Kansas will open the 2026-27 regular season on Monday, November 2, against the Fordham Rams. Tipoff from Allen Fieldhouse is set for 7 p.m. CT, and the game can be seen on ESPN+.
Tyran Stokes 2026-27 Honors
NABC Preseason Player of the Year Watch List (1 of 20)
Julius Irving Small Forward of the Year Preseason Top 20
The Athletic Preseason All-America Second Team
ESPN Top 100 Preseason – No. 4
247Sports Preseason All-America Third Team
The Field of 68 Preseason All-America First Team
CBS Sports Preseason All-America First Team
Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year
Preseason All-Big 12
2027 NABC Division I Player of the Year – Preseason Watch List
Flory Bidunga, Louisville
John Blackwell, Duke
Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, Duke
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan
Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
Alex Condon, Florida
Thijs De Ridder, Virginia
Silas Demary Jr., Connecticut
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Juke Harris, Tennessee
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
David Mirkovic, Illinois
Milan Momcilovic, Kentucky
Braylon Mullins, Connecticut
Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
TYRAN STOKES, KANSAS
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt
JT Toppin, Texas Tech