Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 player in the class of 2026, has the basketball world watching his every move — and it looks like the University of Kentucky might be inching closer to the top of his list. But if you ask his mom, she’s still sitting on the fence… or maybe the other side of it entirely.
When asked how much Kentucky basketball she watched last season, Stokes’ mother didn’t hold back — and her words struck a cultural chord that goes far beyond the hardwood.
“You know we’re from Louisville, right? Louisvillians don’t really watch a lot of Kentucky basketball,” she told KSR+. “This year is my year to watch college sports, for sure.”
That one sentence speaks volumes about the pulse of a state divided — where the battle between UK and Louisville isn’t just fought in Rupp Arena or at the KFC Yum! Center, but at backyard cookouts, family dinners, barbershops, and break rooms from Paducah to Pikeville.
Stokes, a 6-foot-7 wrecking ball of a wing, has all the makings of a future pro. His elite size, strength, and ball-handling ability allow him to dominate in transition and punish defenders in half-court sets. He’s not just the top player in his class — he’s a walking mismatch with a polished game that screams NBA-ready.
Though his recruitment has remained intentionally quiet, insiders say Kentucky is gaining serious traction. Whether or not his mom will start cheering in blue is another story entirely — but one thing’s certain: she’s not the only Louisvillian who might be forced to flip the channel this season.
