Louisville basketball fans have kept a close eye on the No. 1 recruit in the 2026 recruiting class, Tyran Stokes. The Louisville native is the most dominant recruit in this highly recruited class, as he has taken over nearly every basketball camp he attended this summer.
Stokes is ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the nation as the 6-foot-7, 220-pound small forward is coming off yet another gold medal run with Team USA, where he made history and became the first U19 player to earn a triple-double for Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Cups.
Now, the Cardinals, Wildcats, and Jayhawks are locked in on everything about the elite forward, including his social media account. Stokes put out a post on X last week that has the fans of five schools raising eyebrows and trying to hold back excitement.
Related: 6 dream 5-star targets for Louisville basketball in the 2026 recruiting class
Tyran Stokes sends massive recruiting hint
The social media post was odd and random, leading many fans to believe it was a hint that he would announce a recruiting update and his final five schools. The tweet? Five hearts, four in different colors.
❤️💙💚❤️🤍!
— tyran stokes (@tyran_stokes) August 19, 2025
Stokes' top three schools in the race at the moment are Louisville, Kentucky, and Kansas; behind those three, Oregon, Arkansas, and Gonzaga are apparently earning visits this fall. So, that is six schools and five hearts, and fans immediately began to speculate if the hearts are a bombshell of a post of him announcing his top five.
Which makes sense, since Louisville and Arkansas line up with the two red, Kentucky lines up with the blue, Oregon with the green, and then either Kansas or Gonzaga with the white.
The No. 1 recruit has kept his recruiting quiet, but in recent reports, many experts believe the Wildcats jumped the Cardinals and are now the new frontrunner. Louisville fans know how crucial it is for Pat Kelsey to land Stokes, as it would be a massive sign to the future of the state if the No. 1 recruit in the nation went to his hometown's rival rather than to play in front of the city he grew up in.
Also, he is a future NBA star and would skyrocket this program even higher. At the EYBL Session 3 in Kansas City, the consensus 5-star prospect averaged 25.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, while shooting 47 percent from the field.
So, as Stokes continues to prove why Louisville must land him and earn his commitment, for now, the fans are going to continue to watch every step and every move, including a random post on social media with five hearts.
Related: No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes just gave his biggest hint yet at a Louisville commitment
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.