Tyran Stokes is a name every Louisville basketball fan must know. The Louisville native is ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the 2026 class, and Pat Kelsey has made it clear he is all in on Stokes.
The Cardinals were the first to receive an official visit from Stokes, leading them to dominate the early recruiting race. However, since that visit, he has now taken visits to Kentucky and Kansas, and it appears to be a three-team race to land Stokes' commitment, as many expect him to commit to one of those three schools.
Well, many believe Kentucky has become the frontrunner for Stokes, but Stokes' mother just sent a loud message that should fire up Louisville fans and terrify Kentucky fans.
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Tyran Stokes mom loyalty is beginning to show
Keiara Stokes was recently asked in an interview how much Kentucky basketball she watched last season, and her response should give Louisville fans hope that the No. 1 recruit in the 2026 cycle is coming home next season.
“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.”
Her loyalty is evident in her initial response to this question. Stokes' mother just made it perfectly clear that this family is die-hard Louisville fans. The fact that they didn't watch any games of one of her son's top schools speaks loudly.
The 6-foot-7 small forward, of course, has a big decision looming. After his mom stated that he is thinking of committing before the season starts, the Cardinals must do everything they can to earn his commitment over Mark Pope and Kentucky.
The Cardinals can't whiff on this massive opportunity. It would be devastating to miss out on a Louisville native, especially after his mom just made it clear that they are not the biggest Kentucky fans. Stokes is even hosting a back-to-school drive in Louisville at the beginning of August, proving he loves the city where he grew up.
This family loves the community and the city of Louisville and Kelsey and his staff must do everything they can to keep them in the city. The Cardinals are in the running for two Kentucky natives, as Taylen Kinney is the top point guard in the 2026 class and is a Newport, Ky. native.
Kelsey as of right now is the favorites to land both per On3 Sports Joe Tipton, but it is clear the battle for both 5-stars is a Kelsey vs Pope battle. Stokes will be the clear No. 1 target for both programs, but the dream scenario is to swipe both Kentucky natives and to take control of the state.
Stokes' mother's quote is an excellent representation of how the two programs feel about each other. The rivalry is one of the best in college basketball, and it would be much better for the city of Louisville to see its basketball star in red and black rather than blue and white.
Related: Louisville basketball receives crushing update on nation's No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.