Matt Jones says Stokes could announce today or tomorrow

Waitingon9

Redshirt
Apr 22, 2026
10
17
0
Hey guys - I usually only post on the Kentucky bball Reddit sub, but I have such good news that I decided to post it here as well. My best friend's son played on one of Stoke's AAU teams and is still pretty close to him. Stokes told him that as far as he's concerned,he is going to Kentucky and it's a done deal in his mind. Apparently everyone that knows Stokes at all knows that he's Kentucky bound. The only reason that he hasn't committed is because his agent really wants him at a Nike school. But the kid said that Stokes has a mind of his own and will definitely do what he wants. He's just been putting off the inevitable on actually committing and kicking the can down the road because of the backlash. If it comes down to it, he said he will drop Nike if he has to because he won't be controlled by anyone.
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
28,778
68,986
113
Hey guys - I usually only post on the Kentucky bball Reddit sub, but I have such good news that I decided to post it here as well. My best friend's son played on one of Stoke's AAU teams and is still pretty close to him. Stokes told him that as far as he's concerned,he is going to Kentucky and it's a done deal in his mind. Apparently everyone that knows Stokes at all knows that he's Kentucky bound. The only reason that he hasn't committed is because his agent really wants him at a Nike school. But the kid said that Stokes has a mind of his own and will definitely do what he wants. He's just been putting off the inevitable on actually committing and kicking the can down the road because of the backlash. If it comes down to it, he said he will drop Nike if he has to because he won't be controlled by anyone.
So, he’s going to Kansas
 

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
45,612
82,704
113
Hey guys - I usually only post on the Kentucky bball Reddit sub, but I have such good news that I decided to post it here as well. My best friend's son played on one of Stoke's AAU teams and is still pretty close to him. Stokes told him that as far as he's concerned,he is going to Kentucky and it's a done deal in his mind. Apparently everyone that knows Stokes at all knows that he's Kentucky bound. The only reason that he hasn't committed is because his agent really wants him at a Nike school. But the kid said that Stokes has a mind of his own and will definitely do what he wants. He's just been putting off the inevitable on actually committing and kicking the can down the road because of the backlash. If it comes down to it, he said he will drop Nike if he has to because he won't be controlled by anyone.
That makes zero sense, if he wants Kentucky and his agent wants a Nike school. Hello! We are a Nike school so he would have committed had that been true.
 

Waitingon9

Redshirt
Apr 22, 2026
10
17
0
On a side note - he is going to commit this Friday, which is his grandmother's birthday. She is one of the people that has really pushed for him to go to Kentucky and thinks it will make her day even more special. I really don't care either way, I'm just happy we finally have good news.
 
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cawoodsct

Heisman
Apr 27, 2006
39,870
27,919
102
Kinda sad that you are struggling to get great players and you don't even want the best in the class coming here. Just believe the money can be spent elsewhere to help us more.
 
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Mossip

All-American
Jul 20, 2007
5,977
5,568
60
Hey guys - I usually only post on the Kentucky bball Reddit sub, but I have such good news that I decided to post it here as well. My best friend's son played on one of Stoke's AAU teams and is still pretty close to him. Stokes told him that as far as he's concerned,he is going to Kentucky and it's a done deal in his mind. Apparently everyone that knows Stokes at all knows that he's Kentucky bound. The only reason that he hasn't committed is because his agent really wants him at a Nike school. But the kid said that Stokes has a mind of his own and will definitely do what he wants. He's just been putting off the inevitable on actually committing and kicking the can down the road because of the backlash. If it comes down to it, he said he will drop Nike if he has to because he won't be controlled by anyone.
Respectfully, your bs doesn’t even make sense.

He wants to go to the Nike school but he’ll drop Nike if he has to. Ummm wut!?!
 

Fruit Cove Wildcat

Sophomore
Apr 2, 2025
48
117
33
To be fair to Matt, I was listening as well when this was discussed. All he said was UK is trying to push Stokes to tell them if he is coming or not today or tomorrow so they can decide to go after someone else. So basically the same level of incompetence is still present with Pope and staff. I have to assume the other guy is the Baylor player so I expect we hear him commit to UCLA while waiting on Stokes. Stokes will obviously not pick Kentucky shortly after.
 

Rainmaker

All-Conference
May 13, 2015
1,341
3,672
113
@Rainmaker what’s the latest?
Conflicting depending on if you listen to staff or donors. I've been pretty strong in the camp we get Stokes for 3+ months now but at this point for me I have no idea what to think. Staffers I talk to think we are getting him, whereas large donors don't and they've already shifted efforts to try and get Momcilivic and Yessoufou. I've learned that when the staff talks to me they are overly optimistic obviously. This is the first recruiting cycle I've been a part of when I've been told they are coming 100% and 2/4 of the times they didn't come. I do believe when they tell me the players told them they were coming and then changed their mind, my issue is the "why" that happened. We need to move and move quickly based on where he decides to go, I can say the staff truly believes he is coming. I heard this weekend it'd be a Thursday commitment date and have not heard different since so I'd assume it will be but nothing about his recruitment has gone the way it normally would so who knows. We are pursuing several high level Euros which I'd love to see us land 1 of at the minimum. Not Jelavic types either but future projected lottery types.
 

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
28,778
68,986
113
To be fair to Matt, I was listening as well when this was discussed. All he said was UK is trying to push Stokes to tell them if he is coming or not today or tomorrow so they can decide to go after someone else. So basically the same level of incompetence is still present with Pope and staff. I have to assume the other guy is the Baylor player so I expect we hear him commit to UCLA while waiting on Stokes. Stokes will obviously not pick Kentucky shortly after.
Mark Fox has already talked to the baylor wing, about “existing in the college basketball space”.
 

Waitingon9

Redshirt
Apr 22, 2026
10
17
0
Conflicting depending on if you listen to staff or donors. I've been pretty strong in the camp we get Stokes for 3+ months now but at this point for me I have no idea what to think. Staffers I talk to think we are getting him, whereas large donors don't and they've already shifted efforts to try and get Momcilivic and Yessoufou. I've learned that when the staff talks to me they are overly optimistic obviously. This is the first recruiting cycle I've been a part of when I've been told they are coming 100% and 2/4 of the times they didn't come. I do believe when they tell me the players told them they were coming and then changed their mind, my issue is the "why" that happened. We need to move and move quickly based on where he decides to go, I can say the staff truly believes he is coming. I heard this weekend it'd be a Thursday commitment date and have not heard different since so I'd assume it will be but nothing about his recruitment has gone the way it normally would so who knows. We are pursuing several high level Euros which I'd love to see us land 1 of at the minimum. Not Jelavic types either but future projected lottery types.
Yes, you're a real guru 😂. You know people are only asking you what the latest is because they're laughing at you, right?
 

Fruit Cove Wildcat

Sophomore
Apr 2, 2025
48
117
33
I'm guessing Matt's prediction has the caveat "absent a major change" right? Just like with us getting one of Rancik or Freeman...
He didn't make a prediction. He said he thinks closure with Stokes will come today/tomorrow because the staff has asked for it. He said the staff thinks they have a good shot and he admitted that may be delusional.
 

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
45,612
82,704
113
Conflicting depending on if you listen to staff or donors. I've been pretty strong in the camp we get Stokes for 3+ months now but at this point for me I have no idea what to think. Staffers I talk to think we are getting him, whereas large donors don't and they've already shifted efforts to try and get Momcilivic and Yessoufou. I've learned that when the staff talks to me they are overly optimistic obviously. This is the first recruiting cycle I've been a part of when I've been told they are coming 100% and 2/4 of the times they didn't come. I do believe when they tell me the players told them they were coming and then changed their mind, my issue is the "why" that happened. We need to move and move quickly based on where he decides to go, I can say the staff truly believes he is coming. I heard this weekend it'd be a Thursday commitment date and have not heard different since so I'd assume it will be but nothing about his recruitment has gone the way it normally would so who knows. We are pursuing several high level Euros which I'd love to see us land 1 of at the minimum. Not Jelavic types either but future projected lottery types.
That’s why I think our information from insiders sucks. Seems to me that the staff is Toxically Positive and can’t read a recruitment to save their lives. Probably why things alway go south. Most of them never intend to come and the staff puts out that they think they got them.
 

Seth_C

All-American
Mar 12, 2017
4,646
8,292
96
So if he was waiting to see what rosters would look like, and we have added a 3 star and no one else since then, if he is deciding soon it clearly isn't us.
 
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UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
3,672
6,493
113
Even if we get Stokes, what other players could we REALISTICALLY get to out around him? Zoom, Wilkins, Stokes, Kam, and Moreno as the starting 5 with Trent, Reece, Mason Williams, and Braydon doesn’t exactly inspire confidence tbh.
You would need to add a PF to that starting 5, dropping Kam to 6th man. If the starters were Zoom, Wilkins, Stokes, McBride and Moreno, that is still one of the better starting fives in the country. Kam, Williams, and you still need another shooter and backup post, but its getting closer if you sign him
 

UKgrad22

Senior
Apr 9, 2026
192
503
93
Conflicting depending on if you listen to staff or donors. I've been pretty strong in the camp we get Stokes for 3+ months now but at this point for me I have no idea what to think. Staffers I talk to think we are getting him, whereas large donors don't and they've already shifted efforts to try and get Momcilivic and Yessoufou. I've learned that when the staff talks to me they are overly optimistic obviously. This is the first recruiting cycle I've been a part of when I've been told they are coming 100% and 2/4 of the times they didn't come. I do believe when they tell me the players told them they were coming and then changed their mind, my issue is the "why" that happened. We need to move and move quickly based on where he decides to go, I can say the staff truly believes he is coming. I heard this weekend it'd be a Thursday commitment date and have not heard different since so I'd assume it will be but nothing about his recruitment has gone the way it normally would so who knows. We are pursuing several high level Euros which I'd love to see us land 1 of at the minimum. Not Jelavic types either but future projected lottery types.
Would love to see large donors push for Milan and Tounde, just don’t see this roster coming together to where it would showcase Stokes
 
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Rainmaker

All-Conference
May 13, 2015
1,341
3,672
113
So if he was waiting to see what rosters would look like, and we have added a 3 star and no one else since then, if he is deciding soon it clearly isn't us.
Kansas hasn't had any better a portal season than we have so clearly that isn't his deciding factor. We are both left with very underwhelming rosters currently.
 

cornbreadnmilk

All-Conference
Nov 5, 2025
1,362
4,708
113
He didn't make a prediction. He said he thinks closure with Stokes will come today/tomorrow because the staff has asked for it. He said the staff thinks they have a good shot and he admitted that may be delusional.
That seems to be a major problem with this staff. Even last season I remember hearing they thought Caleb Wilson was locked up. They seem to live in a fantasy land.
 
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Rainmaker

All-Conference
May 13, 2015
1,341
3,672
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Would love to see large donors push for Milan and Tounde, just don’t see this roster coming together to where it would showcase Stokes
They already have, there is 9 million between them both, 5 million Tounde and 4 million Milan. Just not sure they are interested in coming here, that is the issue. Plus Tounde is likely late 1st round pick though next years draft is much weaker and there are worse things than making 5 million and moving into the lottery next year.