LAWRENCE - Tyran Stokes didn’t need long to announce himself at Kansas’ open practice Thursday night.
The freshman guard, the No. 1-rated men’s college basketball prospect in the high school recruiting class of 2026, caught a pass from Kohl Rosario above the 3-point line near the top of the key, faced up against 6-foot-10 teammate Davion Adkins and buried a deep 3-pointer. It was the kind of snap moment that turned heads inside Allen Fieldhouse, where about 200 KU fans watched the Jayhawks go through a 45-minute session.
Stokes, a 6-8, 230-pound native of Louisville, then walked back toward the east lower-level bleachers and slapped hands with a fan, smiling all the way.
KU senior forward Keanu Dawes didn’t hesitate when asked about what Stokes brings.
“I say he’s complete, a very complete player,” Dawes said.
Rosario was even more direct.
“Oh my gosh. I mean, he’s literally like a superhuman,” Rosario said.
“I remember my first time meeting him. I did not think he was going to be that tall.
I mean, this guy weighs 240 pounds. I weigh 205.
That’s 35 pounds more than me.
“He’s just really good at basketball. I don’t think anybody could stop him from going downhill.
You can quote me on that. He’s such a force when it comes to scoring and drawing people to making the open pass to the open player.”
Rosario, a 6-6, 205-pound sophomore from Miami, also showed off a different part of his game Thursday. He had at least two putback baskets after crashing the offensive glass, and he said that effort is part of his approach.
“I always try to crash,” Rosario said. “I just want to do what’s best for my team.
So whether it’s hitting the open shot or going for the boards, I just want to get our team the ball and put it in the basket. So that’s why I crash.”
There was also a coaching moment when Bill Self corrected Rosario for passing up an open 3-pointer. Rosario said the message from the Kansas coach was about confidence and aggressiveness.
“He did? I didn’t remember that,” Rosario said with a grin.
“He told us he’s never going to get mad at us when shooting. Play hard and he’s never going to get mad.
“He gives confidence to players that wouldn’t have it themselves, but gives that to them, saying he will get mad if they don’t shoot an open shot, especially if you shoot as well as me or Luke or any of those guys.”
Freshman Luke Barnett, who hit a few 3s Thursday, drew praise from Rosario too.
“is one of the best shooters I’ve played with, probably, other than Darryn (Peterson),” Rosario said. “We were talking about it ... the most 3s he’s made in a row was like 96. That’s crazy.
“He’s a really, really good shooter. I shoot with him all the time.
It’s great to have somebody to challenge me, challenge myself. But yeah, he’s the real deal,” Rosario added of the 6-4, 195-pound native of Laguna Niguel, California.
Dawes also knocked down a 3 during the session, though he later airballed a corner attempt. Still, the 6-9, 225-pound senior from Houston said the Jayhawks have plenty of perimeter options.
“I think we’re a really good 3-point shooting team, especially at different positions. We’re very versatile when it comes to 3-point shooting,” Dawes said. “Today I had a little mis-hap in the corner, but normally I’m pretty good from there.”
After practice, Kansas players went into the stands to thank the fans who attended the paid session. Self also addressed the crowd and answered a few questions.
Senior center Christian Reeves, who is still working back from offseason labrum surgery and wore a wrap on his shoulder, was active in the scrimmage portions. The 7-2, 260-pound transfer from College of Charleston, who began his career at Duke, finished around the rim repeatedly with dunks while guarding 7-footer Paul Mbiya, who also had several dunks on lobs and interior passes.
Two other recent additions, seniors Tre White and Melvin Council Jr., also took part Thursday. White knocked down several 3-pointers and collected a handful of offensive rebounds, while Council spent more of the session distributing the ball than looking for his own shot.
Kansas’ next public basketball event is a week from Friday, when the Jayhawks face Pittsburg State in an exhibition game at 7 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse. It’s being presented as “Late Night in the Phog,” with some familiar touches from recent Late Nights, including extended player introductions and video skits on the scoreboard.
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