Aaron Torres Take On Stokes To Kentucky

Farsight Clone

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I actually like Torres. He is very respectful of UK and our tradition and fans. He is typically neutral and has some decent takes. I think here he makes some good points that if Stokes really wanted Kansas he would have committed even with Self coming back. So why would he come visit UK late? He thinks it's a good sign and I think I agree.

Give the guy a like, he does a good job. Full Video:

 

Anon1774630942

Freshman
Mar 27, 2026
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He tends to go where the volume of watchers are. Rides Cal - his general interest in UK started with Cal. Find him to be a blowhard that regurgitates news elsewhere with a loud spin on it.
 

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
41,596
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Stokes got the news Self was not going to retire (when you struggle with the idea, YOU SHOULD retire) but then watched Kansas lose most of its players to the portal. Probably spooked him. Hopefully he is seeing the structure and plan Pope has for him this weekend. And, hopefully Mo can show how he will have a mentor who has played at the highest levels in the NBA with an NBA legend who was also the #1 HS player.
 
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Farsight Clone

All-Conference
Aug 30, 2025
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Stokes got the news Self was not going to retire (when you struggle with the idea, YOU SHOULD retire) but then watched Kansas lose most of its players to the portal. Probably spooked him. Hopefully he is seeing the structure and plan Pope has for him this weekend. And, hopefully Mo can show how he will have a mentor who has played at the highest levels in the NBA with an NBA legend who was also the #1 HS player.
Mo Williams hire might be the most important hire for Pope. Him being a PG, played with LeFlop and won a title with him would/should help us get better talent. Time will tell.

It's like I want to be excited for Pope's third year if we get good players, but the back of my mind tells me to temper expectations, even as a Pope Denier.
 
Mar 30, 2026
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Mo Williams hire might be the most important hire for Pope. Him being a PG, played with LeFlop and won a title with him would/should help us get better talent. Time will tell.

It's like I want to be excited for Pope's third year if we get good players, but the back of my mind tells me to temper expectations, even as a Pope Denier.
Here's how we finally decide the Stokes recruitment:

Mo Williams vs. Jacque Vaughn 1-on-1. First to 21 wins.
 

Dr.LutherSan

All-American
Sep 6, 2019
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People keep bringing up Wall and Mashburn, but I see him more as a Patrick Patterson. His commitment was more of a sell that the head coach could succeed than in Wall and Mashburn's case.
 

BlueSince92

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Jul 2, 2025
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I like Torres well enough. He’s a nice guy and a hard worker but not a mental heavyweight.

Stokes is all in on Kansas but doesn’t like their money offer. We are clearly the tool to use to raise that money offer. Not rocket science.

Doesn’t mean there’s not a small chance we could flip him. But the fact he hasn’t committed to KU yet doesn’t mean he likes us. It means he likes money.
 

JwUKFan11

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Nov 11, 2011
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I also like Torres but he knows nothing. I think the little information I see on discords and reading some tea leaves is more than he knows.
 
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Mar 30, 2026
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I like Torres well enough. He’s a nice guy and a hard worker but not a mental heavyweight.

Stokes is all in on Kansas but doesn’t like their money offer. We are clearly the tool to use to raise that money offer. Not rocket science.

Doesn’t mean there’s not a small chance we could flip him. But the fact he hasn’t committed to KU yet doesn’t mean he likes us. It means he likes money.
I think there's more to it than that. Maybe you're right but he's not acting like a guy who is still "all in on Kansas"
 

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
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I think he does a good job but uses 100 words when 20 would suffice. Getting to his point is often a labor but that is true for most YouTubers. They have a couple of things to say but have to make sure it lasts 12-14 minutes. LOL
He does it to pad his videos.
 

Eagles_Ball_69

All-American
Dec 19, 2003
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Seems like a good sign. Unless Stokes is just using these final weeks to get the absolute highest bid from someone.. which is think is very possible.
I think you're probably on to something here. Doesn't mean that someone WON'T be UK. But yeah, I think these visits are all about trying to get KU to pay up.
 
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tls

Heisman
Nov 7, 2007
7,861
14,460
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One edge Self has on Pope in this recruitment

He can tell Stokes to come to KU and help the Chokehawks get to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 5 years
 

KevinM

Redshirt
Oct 12, 2014
11
3
1
I agree and Pitino's Mashburn. I really want to see Pope with actual good players. I want to see if he can actually coach them and succeed with them. If he can't do that, they we were right the entire time. But this is Pope's last chance to prove he can.
Way different than Mashburn. Stokes coming in as the savior.
Mash had multiple years to build his brand.

This is more like a one hit wonder; Zion Williamson.
 
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