As Kansas gets closer to the 2026-27 season, Tyran Stokes is already putting in work away from the team setting, and he’s doing it with one of the most recognizable shooting coaches in the game.
Chris Matthews, the trainer known to his massive social media following as “Lethal Shooter,” has been in the gym with the incoming Kansas freshman, helping him sharpen his jumper. Late Friday night, Matthews posted on X:
6ft8 Tyran Stokes ( U of Kansas) is committed to getting better everyday. He understands it!✔️ #KansasJayHawks pic.twitter.com/EAEvlQURje
The clip shows Stokes knocking down catch-and-shoot threes and pull-up mid-range jumpers with ease. His shot looks smooth, repeatable, and compact. Training videos always deserve a little caution before anyone starts projecting too far, but it’s still hard not to notice the progress on display.
Stokes has built his reputation on a powerful frame and highlight-reel dunks, but there’s more to his game than that. Bill Self has said two of Stokes’ most underrated traits are his passing and shooting, and the video lines up with that assessment.
If the jumper keeps moving forward, Stokes becomes an even tougher problem for defenses. Kansas could be looking at one of the most complete freshmen in the country by the time the season arrives.
The Kentucky native was always an elite athlete, but early in his high school career he didn’t yet have the same intangibles and discipline he shows now. That’s part of what makes his freshman year so intriguing - and part of why the idea of him wearing crimson and blue carries so much appeal.
In Other News...
Kansas Frontcourt Just Got A New Eligibility Question To Watch
Kansas has another frontcourt situation worth monitoring as Paul Mbiya settles into campus after arriving from ASVEL Basket, where he spent the 2024-25 season before making the jump to college basketball. The 7-footer from the Democratic Republic of Congo was born April 11, 2005, and the Jayhawks are already sorting out how the NCAAs recent eligibility changes could shape his path in Lawrence.
Kansas Athletics is listing Mbiya as a junior for the upcoming season under the new age-based framework, which caps athletic participation around age 24. What still isnt clear is whether that designation truly changes the length of his college career or simply reshuffles how his eligibility is classified, leaving one more layer of roster math for Bill Selfs staff to track. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Suddenly Has An Unexpected Quarterback Possibility
Kansas already has its next quarterback plan taking shape for 2026, with Lance Leipold saying the offense will feature Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall in different packages. That gives the Jayhawks some early clarity at the position, but it also leaves room for the unexpected if the right veteran becomes available in the months ahead.
Tommy Castellanos has now inserted himself into that conversation by filing a lawsuit against the NCAA, a move aimed at changing his eligibility situation and reopening his path to the transfer portal. Known for his dual-threat style and leadership, he would immediately stand out as a potential fit for a program looking to keep its quarterback room flexible, even if the legal fight makes the timeline anything but simple. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Is Eyeing A Late Backcourt Option With A Real Rotation Catch
Kansas still has two roster spots to work with, and the late-cycle market has led it to a guard who has drawn attention well beyond Lawrence. The Jayhawks have shown interest in a transfer backcourt option after he received an NCAA eligibility injunction, a development that suddenly put him back into play for programs looking to add offense and creation this time of year.
The appeal is obvious: he is regarded as a skilled shot-creator and ball-handler, the kind of perimeter piece that can help a rotation in a hurry. Kansas is not alone in the chase, though, with NC State, SMU, UCF, Appalachian State and Pacific also showing interest, which sets up a crowded recruiting picture for a player who can change the look of a backcourt. [Read more 🡒]