The Daily Mauling 4.29.26

Mar 19, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self speaks at a press conference ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Kansas Jayhawk News Honestly, there’s not a whole lot out there about Kansas basketball at the moment, except for stories about Bill Self and the Jayhawks landing the #1 recruit in the class once again! CBS Sports has a writeup on what landing Stokes might mean for the Jayhawks next season : With next year’s NBA draft being wide open at the top, Stokes could play himself into the conversation to be the No.

1 overall pick in 2027. His physical gifts and sheer talent make him far and away the player with the most pro potential ending the 2026-27 season. ESPN also has a good piece on the news : Stokes is a massive and much-needed recruiting win for Bill Self and Kansas.

He’s the second five-star commitment for the Jayhawks in the 2026 class, joining point guard Taylen Kinney , and gives Self a potential No. 1 NBA draft pick for the second straight season after Darryn Peterson spent this past season in Lawrence. Kansas also now has the No.

2-ranked recruiting class in the country. Through the Phog reminds Kansas fans that getting Stokes also sets up an interesting story line as Kansas will face Kentucky next season. The Jayhawks haven’t played Kentucky since the 2023-24 campaign and are currently on the losing end of the series with 12 wins to 24 losses, however Self and Co.