Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes is already sitting at the center of the 2027 NBA Draft conversation, and ESPN just put him on top of its latest big board.
NBA draft analyst Jeremy Woo released his early rankings Thursday, and Stokes checked in at No. 1. That matches where Woo had him in his early 2027 mock draft this summer, and the placement held steady after Stokes turned in a pair of strong preseason outings and an encouraging opening-night performance against Fordham this week.
Woo sees a player with the kind of all-around package NBA teams chase. In his breakdown, he wrote:
“Stokes starts the season with a significant opportunity to establish himself at No. 1, with Kansas' success largely dependent on how quickly he adjusts to college. He's a bona fide do-it-all perimeter talent who can take over games on offense and defense, profiling as the type of big, modern playmaker the NBA covets. Stokes can create advantages for teammates as a passer and attack mismatches with his handle and physicality, but his decision-making and jump shooting are still a work in progress.”
Woo also pointed to the parts of Stokes’ game that still need sharpening, especially when it comes to maturity and consistency.
“NBA evaluators are looking for better efficiency, consistency and maturity from Stokes, whose emotions can at times impede his competitive success. A step forward in those areas could move him toward stardom and solidify his path to hearing his name called at the top.
Although there's no consensus right now at No. 1, Stokes' skill set gives him an edge as the college season gets underway.”
So far, Stokes has done little to cool the hype. He’s looked like the best player on the floor night after night, and Kansas coach Bill Self has been just as bullish on him. At Big 12 Media Days, Self praised Stokes’ feel for the game and the way he carries himself in practice.
“What’s surprised me about him is his basketball IQ is ridiculously high," Self said at Big 12 Media Days. “The other thing is when he’s playing at his highest level, he’s a passer first, scorer second - and guys love playing with him.
And I think it’s not a surprise, but I think to some people it could be a surprise - there’s nobody on our team that’s more coachable. I coach him hard, and he comes back for more every day.”
If Stokes ends up going No. 1 next summer, he would join a short list in Kansas history. Only Danny Manning in 1988 and Andrew Wiggins in 2014 have been selected first overall out of Kansas basketball.
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