LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas freshman standout Tyran Stokes has been named the Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year and preseason all-conference as the league announced its coaches’ Monster Energy Big 12 men’s basketball preseason honors today.
Kansas finished third in the coaches’ preseason poll garnering 186 points. Arizona (220 points) is the coaches’ favorite followed by Houston (214), Kansas, Iowa State (181), and Texas Tech (180), rounding out the top five in the 16-team conference. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team or student-athletes in the poll.
Stokes was one of 10 selections by the coaches on the Preseason All-Big 12 team. A 6-foot-8 guard from Louisville, Kentucky, Stokes is Kansas’ second-consecutive No. 1 national recruit joining Darryn Peterson from last year’s class. 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 Self at Kansas, joining Peterson, Andrew Wiggins (2013) and Josh Jackson (2016).
Historically, Stokes is the 11th Jayhawk to be named Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year in the 31-year history of the conference. He joins Peterson (2025-26), Quentin Grimes (2018-19), Jackson (2016-17), Cheick Diallo (2015-16), Cliff Alexander (co-2014-15), Wiggins (2013-14), Josh Selby (2010-11), Julian Wright (2005-06), David Padgett (co-2003-04), and Nick Collison (1999-2000).
Coming off a 24-11 season where it finished third in the Big 12 with a 12-6 league record, Kansas features returning starters Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White, along with returning letterwinners Rosario, center Paul Mbiya, and guard Will Thengvall. Self welcomes 11 newcomers with four transfers – sophomore guard Leroy Blyden Jr., senior forward Keanu Dawes, senior guard Dennis Parker Jr., and fifth-year center Christian Reeves. Besides Stokes, KU’s freshman class is loaded with McDonald’s All-American guard Taylen Kinney and fellow guards Luke Barnett and Trent Perry, and forwards Davion Adkins, Grant Mordini, and Atticus Richmond.
Fans will get a first look at the 2026-27 Jayhawks at Late Night in the Phog presented by Hy-Vee on Friday, Oct. 16, in conjunction with the Pittsburg State exhibition contest. Late Night festivities begin at 2 p.m. with PhogFest on the Allen Fieldhouse lawn with doors for the Pitt State contest opening at 5 p.m. for students and 5:30 p.m. for the general public.
2026-27 Big 12 Coaches Preseason Poll
Rank, Team (first place votes) – points
1. Arizona (12) – 220 points
2. Houston (4) – 214 points
3. KANSAS – 186 points
4. Iowa State – 181 points
5. Texas Tech – 180 points
6. BYU – 148 points
7. TCU – 137 points
T8. Cincinnati – 116 points
T8. West Virginia – 116 points
10. Baylor – 102 points
11. Oklahoma State – 98 points
12. Arizona State – 75 points
13. UCF – 55 points
T14. Colorado – 34 points
T14. Kansas State – 34 points
16. Utah – 24 points
2026-27 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Preseason Honors
Preseason Player of the Year: Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Paulius Murauskas, Arizona State
Preseason Freshman of the Year: TYRAN STOKES, KANSAS
2026-27 All-Big 12 Preseason Team
Ivan Kharchenkov, Arizona
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
Paulius Murauskas, Arizona State
Robert Wright III, BYU*
Dedan Thomas Jr., Houston
Joseph Tugler, Houston
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
TYRAN STOKES, KANSAS
Xavier Edmonds, TCU