Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes is already drawing big-time praise before he’s played a game in Lawrence.
Former Jayhawks assistant Norm Roberts said on the Field of 68 that Stokes reminded him of an NBA star.
“A Kawhi Leonard-type guy,” Roberts said on the Field of 68. “I’m talking about the college Kawhi.
(He) wasn’t a big-time three-point shooter, but could get to mid-range. (He) could affect the game defensively.
His length, his strength, where you can play him in different ways. And I think (KU head coach Bill Self) does a great job of that.
And he’s going to utilize him.
“He’s going to have him bringing the ball up as a point. He’s going to be coming off of ball screens. He’s going to do a lot of unique things.”
A program source wasn’t quite as bold, but told The Star that Stokes has looked as good as advertised and has been a great teammate.
An NBA scout also told The Star that Stokes would have gone top-five in the 2026 NBA Draft and will contend for being the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft.
The buzz around Stokes is only adding to the anticipation for the new-look Late Night in the Phog.
Elsewhere in the Kansas mailbag, there’s at least some openness to the idea of selling naming rights to facilities to help bring in money. One question raised the possibility, and the response was that it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
College athletics has already moved into a world of jersey patches and court logos, and KU football’s stadium already carries the name of alumnus and donor David Booth. The argument was simple: it would make sense for Kansas to eventually consider doing the same with other facilities.
There was also a question about the viral idea that Stokes had been wearing jeans on a run. The answer: no, that was just sweatpants that looked like jeans, though social media ran with it anyway.
On the football side, there was skepticism about whether Lance Leipold would be on the hot seat if Kansas won fewer than six games. The answer leaned more toward pressure than a full-blown hot seat, but the stakes would be obvious if KU missed a bowl for a third straight season and failed to finish at least .500 this year.
With $300 million in renovations for David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, the expectation is that the on-field product has to keep pace. If the Jayhawks don’t reach bowl eligibility, Leipold himself would say he’s disappointed.
As for betting the under on KU’s win total of 5.5, the response pointed to three reasons not to rush to that conclusion. First, a program source said the transfers have looked better than expected and the defense should be much improved, with the hope that it can at least be average in the Big 12.
Second, the Andy Kotelnicki effect could show up quickly, with the former KU offensive coordinator expected to bring back creative play-calling that made the Jayhawks one of the country’s better offenses in the final years of his tenure. Third, the running back pairing of Dylan Edwards and Yassin Willis was described as one of the most talented duos Kansas has had in recent years, with the potential to fuel a top-five rushing attack in the Big 12 if both stay healthy.
None of that guarantees Kansas gets to the over, but if it does, it likely comes from that mix of improved defense, creative offense and a strong ground game.
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Rosarios path next season will be shaped by how Self sorts through a crowded mix of incoming talent and transfers, with several new backcourt options in the picture. The question is less whether Rosario has a chance to matter and more how much of a chance he gets, and whether his role settles into something bigger than a complementary piece. For a program that is always chasing the right blend, that decision could end up carrying real weight. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Just Gave Late Night A Twist Fans Wont Ignore
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