Toggle sidebar

Mark Pope needs to rescind the Tyran Stokes offer immediately

P

peterpiper09

All-Conference
Mar 19, 2006
1,023
2,054
112
He’s being strung along by this kid and it looks of desperation at this point. Show some pride and end any affiliation with him now. Even if he did come, it would end up bad. He was even seen wearing the back brace thing at the McDonalds game. Just setting the tone for what he will do next season wherever he goes. Plenty of good players in the portal who actually want to play basketball without all the drama.

Anyone that has been around very long has seen this happen before where a recruit strings along another high competitor, costing them resources and time, only to end up going to the other team. Cut the cord now. It could end up costing us another good player.

He’s not bigger than our program, even though some think he is.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: -BBH-, flacat22, jrm693 and 11 others
M

megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
15,515
15,551
113
peterpiper09 said:
He’s being strung along by this kid and it looks of desperation at this point. Show some pride and end any affiliation with him now. Even if he did come, it would end up bad. He was even seen wearing the back brace thing at the McDonalds game. Just setting the tone for what he will do next season wherever he goes. Plenty of good players in the portal who actually want to play basketball without all the drama.

Anyone that has been around very long has seen this happen before where a recruit strings along another high competitor, costing them resources and time, only to end up going to the other team. Cut the cord now. It could end up costing us another good player.

He’s not bigger than our program, even though some think he is.
Click to expand...
I certainly don't know if all of what you said is true, but there is no question that a lot of drama seems to surround his decision-making and I do not see how that can confidently be viewed as a good indicator of an overall successful season with him. Of course, I reserve the right to be wrong.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: jrm693, NotClaraStrack26, CNJ1966 and 1 other person
P

peterpiper09

All-Conference
Mar 19, 2006
1,023
2,054
112
megablue said:
I certainly don't know if all of what you said is true, but there is no question that a lot of drama seems to surround his decision-making and I do not see how that can confidently be viewed as a good indicator of a successful season with him. Of course, I reserve the right to be wrong.
Click to expand...
An attention wh.ore is the LAST thing we need going into next season, trust me.
He’s not even showing any loyalty to his apparel maker. What makes anyone think he would be loyal to anything else?
 
  • Like
  • Haha
  • Love
Reactions: dBradish, Static Cat, nicky and 10 others
B

bgoad72

All-Conference
Apr 6, 2009
705
1,571
87
Monday Nitro said:
He's costing us a recruit is why he needs to be cut off.
Click to expand...
This!! Spot on. Waiting for a guy that we all 95% is going to Kansas is costing us getting somebody else that wants to be here. With one recruit signed for next year we need to hit the portal hard and get some of the best available players before other teams do. Cut this guy loose.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dBradish, nicky, jrm693 and 6 others
MdWIldcat55

MdWIldcat55

Heisman
Dec 9, 2007
21,256
84,740
113
1. Keeping an offer on the table is not costing Kentucky anything. You can't even formally offer anyone in the portal for a five days yet.
2. The idea that Kentucky has NO chance to sign Stokes is false. That belief comes strictly from reading self-anointed online "experts" who don't know anything but pretend to know enough to dupe people into clicking on their fantasies.
3. I'm positive that Pope and his staff know much more about this than any of us, and WOULD cut him loose if there was an advantage in it.
4. Acting out of some anger or anxiety because this is taking a long time to play out is exactly what Pope (or any coach) does NOT need to do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dBradish, CatsDomain, NotClaraStrack26 and 12 others
G

gtown965

Senior
Feb 12, 2026
206
496
63
peterpiper09 said:
He’s being strung along by this kid and it looks of desperation at this point. Show some pride and end any affiliation with him now. Even if he did come, it would end up bad. He was even seen wearing the back brace thing at the McDonalds game. Just setting the tone for what he will do next season wherever he goes. Plenty of good players in the portal who actually want to play basketball without all the drama.

Anyone that has been around very long has seen this happen before where a recruit strings along another high competitor, costing them resources and time, only to end up going to the other team. Cut the cord now. It could end up costing us another good player.

He’s not bigger than our program, even though some think he is.
Click to expand...
You sound like a spoiled child that didn’t get his way. Grow up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Anon1774274437, ruppsrunt1 and paulcalhoun_rivals397471
Monday Nitro

Monday Nitro

All-American
Jul 3, 2025
4,034
6,879
112
MdWIldcat55 said:
1. Keeping an offer on the table is not costing Kentucky anything. You can't even formally offer anyone in the portal for a five days yet.
2. The idea that Kentucky has NO chance to sign Stokes is false. That belief comes strictly from reading self-anointed online "experts" who don't know anything but pretend to know enough to dupe people into clicking on their fantasies.
3. I'm positive that Pope and his staff know much more about this than any of us, and WOULD cut him loose if there was an advantage in it.
4. Acting out of some anger or anxiety because this is taking a long time to play out is exactly what Pope (or any coach) does NOT need to do.
Click to expand...
#1 is just patently wrong. If a kid sees we want stokes, he could easily start looking elsewhere and forget about us. It’s called life.
 
P

peterpiper09

All-Conference
Mar 19, 2006
1,023
2,054
112
MdWIldcat55 said:
1. Keeping an offer on the table is not costing Kentucky anything. You can't even formally offer anyone in the portal for a five days yet.
2. The idea that Kentucky has NO chance to sign Stokes is false. That belief comes strictly from reading self-anointed online "experts" who don't know anything but pretend to know enough to dupe people into clicking on their fantasies.
3. I'm positive that Pope and his staff know much more about this than any of us, and WOULD cut him loose if there was an advantage in it.
4. Acting out of some anger or anxiety because this is taking a long time to play out is exactly what Pope (or any coach) does NOT need to do.
Click to expand...
There are possibly players in the portal who do not want to play with Tyran Stokes. It could be costing us a chance to get those players.

so yes, in the end, it could be costing us
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Anon1774274437, BBNinSCar, Cowtown Cat and 1 other person
kyjeff1

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
50,470
70,654
113
Skyguyb27 said:
You guys are ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Honestly, if you think about it. What's the reason for postponing his announcement until the 11th?

That wreaks of a troll move by KU and Self. If Pope bites hard on this, he would find out 4 days after the portal opened, that Stokes is not coming and by that time, a lot of the big fish recruits, will be gone.

This is a dangerous game for Pope to play. I wouldn’t play it if I was in his shoes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CatsDomain, JHannibalSmith, ala_kat2 and 2 others
P

peterpiper09

All-Conference
Mar 19, 2006
1,023
2,054
112
kyjeff1 said:
Honestly, if you think about it. What's the reason for postponing his announcement until the 11th?

That wreaks of a troll move by KU and Self. If Pope bites hard on this, he would find out 4 days after the portal opened, that Stokes is not coming and by that time, a lot of the big fish recruits, will be gone.

This is a dangerous game for Pope to play. I wouldn’t play it if I was in his shoes.
Click to expand...
You’re correct sir
 
E

Eagles_Ball_69

All-American
Dec 19, 2003
3,740
5,050
82
peterpiper09 said:
He’s being strung along by this kid and it looks of desperation at this point. Show some pride and end any affiliation with him now. Even if he did come, it would end up bad. He was even seen wearing the back brace thing at the McDonalds game. Just setting the tone for what he will do next season wherever he goes. Plenty of good players in the portal who actually want to play basketball without all the drama.

Anyone that has been around very long has seen this happen before where a recruit strings along another high competitor, costing them resources and time, only to end up going to the other team. Cut the cord now. It could end up costing us another good player.

He’s not bigger than our program, even though some think he is.
Click to expand...
Pope looks desperate because he is desperate.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: yoshukai, Anon1751575442, 20MRoster and 3 others
L

lookinfor8

All-Conference
Dec 30, 2002
4,555
3,426
113
peterpiper09 said:
He’s being strung along by this kid and it looks of desperation at this point. Show some pride and end any affiliation with him now. Even if he did come, it would end up bad. He was even seen wearing the back brace thing at the McDonalds game. Just setting the tone for what he will do next season wherever he goes. Plenty of good players in the portal who actually want to play basketball without all the drama.

Anyone that has been around very long has seen this happen before where a recruit strings along another high competitor, costing them resources and time, only to end up going to the other team. Cut the cord now. It could end up costing us another good player.

He’s not bigger than our program, even though some think he is.
Click to expand...
I've always had bad vibes about this guy
 
  • Like
Reactions: sjjones
Monday Nitro

Monday Nitro

All-American
Jul 3, 2025
4,034
6,879
112
JonathanW2 said:
Who is he costing us?
Click to expand...
Ooooh! The gotcha moment you are searching for. You and I both know I don't know what's going on out there but what I do know is that kids keep up with who teams prioritize well before the portal opens and it can easily, EASILY affect who they are interested in.
 
MegaBlue05

MegaBlue05

Heisman
Mar 8, 2014
10,740
21,047
66
I’m 50/50 on this.

On one hand, we need elite talent and this kid is elite. It makes sense to wait.

On the other hand, this is starting to look like yet another Wilson or Ament where we end up being the bridesmaid once again.

My gut reaction is similar to OP’s, but I guess with a talent like Stokes, you have to take the gamble that he picks us. I will be shocked if he’s in a Kentucky uniform next season.
 
  • Like
Reactions: eb4ukcats, Pygmy Sasquatch and Cerberus
*Fox2Monk*

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
44,707
80,484
113
peterpiper09 said:
Yeah, but there’s a sense of do you want to make that situation better or do you want to keep marinating in the laughter of others.
Click to expand...
He’s going to look bad whiffing on him anyway. No matter what he does now, he looks bad. He misses yet another blue chip recruit he prioritized for a year +. The best money offer out there by far. This will be the second one this season alone who was a “lock” only to lose him at the last minute. JMI issues he can’t help, but there is obviously more issues with himself as well.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: BlueBloodKyFan73, JHannibalSmith, true-blue1 and 3 others
C

Catphright23

Senior
Dec 6, 2023
239
498
63
Why would he be desperate? Just recruit good enough players in the portal. Stokes could be great or he could be a head case. Some players pan out like cousins, others end up being kicked off the team like Rashad carruth..
If we get him great if we don't get some good players in the portal. Dusty did good this year with the portal, last year we did better. I'm on wait and see mode to see who we get in portal. The ones saying we are going to be crap without seeing the roster no little to nothing.
I don't know if he can recruit, when he probably isn't good at lying which most people do when signing kids. Some tell the truth about pt and other stuff but most I don't think are completely honest.
 
kyjeff1

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
50,470
70,654
113
MegaBlue05 said:
I’m 50/50 on this.

On one hand, we need elite talent and this kid is elite. It makes sense to wait.

On the other hand, this is starting to look like yet another Wilson or Ament where we end up being the bridesmaid once again.

My gut reaction is similar to OP’s, but I guess with a talent like Stokes, you have to take the gamble that he picks us. I will be shocked if he’s in a Kentucky uniform next season.
Click to expand...
And to me, the odds are very low that he is going to choose us, so a 4/7 deadline is what Pope should do here, or just pull the offer.

His offer from UK is reportedly $2m higher than anyone else. The fact he's still thinking about it, tells us all we need to know, move on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KyKevin, Mossip, Coach777 and 1 other person
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom