High school basketball sensation Tyran Stokes has surprised many by deciding to join the gridiron this fall, transitioning to high school football in his senior year at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in California. Stokes, who holds the title of No. 1 overall basketball prospect for the 2026 cycle, began practicing with the team just nine days ago, despite the football season already being underway.
The 6-foot-7, 225-pound athlete expressed to Tarek Fattal of High School on SI that this move was motivated by his desire to enjoy one last year of being a kid before the collegiate sports world starts viewing everything as a business. Stokes is anticipated to debut as a receiver for the Notre Dame Knights when they face Culver City this Friday.
His decision has stirred excitement and concern alike among Notre Dame supporters and college basketball scouts, who will be keenly observing how he adapts to football while maintaining his basketball career. Notre Dame, holding a 2-2 record this season and ranked 67th in California, narrowly lost their last match against Servite. Culver City enters the game with a 3-1 record, with predictions favoring Notre Dame for a 42-20 victory.
Aside from his new football venture, Stokes has had a busy two months with official visits to colleges such as Oregon, USC, Louisville, Kentucky, and Kansas. However, he has yet to finalize a list of colleges he is considering or set a timeline for his commitment.
For California high school football enthusiasts, the Rivals High School Scoreboard offers an accessible means to stay updated on all the action, delivering real-time updates and final scores from games across the state every Friday night.