Tyran Stokes has brought life back to Seattle’s basketball community for the first time in quite a while. For those unfamiliar with the move, Stokes transferred from Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA, to Rainier Beach during the offseason. He is the No. 1 prospect in the country.
But his move wasn’t random. Rainier Beach is the epicenter of hoops in the Emerald City. Multiple players from this program have played in the NBA, including Jamal Crawford, whose son currently plays for the team, Nate Robinson, Dejounte Murray, and Kevin Porter Jr. The list could be even longer. For the old heads, Doug Christie and Terrence Williams also played here.
Stokes made the move for a couple of reasons. The biggest is probably that he wanted to play in front of intense crowds. Every game he’s played in has been sold out, and the vibe has been wild.
When asked about the transition, he said, “The public school atmosphere is different. I’ve been trying to tell people.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8T0CY2Pxfg&t=304s
(Watch until 1:10)
Another reason is that he gets to play for Jamal Crawford and Mike Bethea. Most people know who Crawford is. He’s a three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award winner, scored 40 points in a game with four different franchises, and likely had the second-best crossover in NBA history.
But he’s actually the young guy on the staff. Bethea was his former coach and is a Seattle-area legend. He’s a lot more than that.
During his tenure at Beach, he’s won everything. The following numbers might be slightly off because high school coaching records can be difficult to track.
Here’s an approximation of his achievements: 10 WIAA state basketball championships, at least seven State Coach of the Year awards, and he also served as head coach of Team USA at the Nike Global Games in 2008.
In 2014, he led the Vikings to the Dick’s Sporting Goods national tournament. It’s rare for public schools to be invited to those events.
The respect between Stokes and Bethea is mutual.
When Tyran was asked why he chose Beach, he said, “When you look at the program, you look at the school, you walk in the gym, you see a bunch of banners, state championships, that’s all it’s about.”
Bethea called Stokes, “Magic Johnson with a jumpshot.”
This duo has led Rainier Beach to the No. 1 seed in the Washington State 3A basketball tournament. Their first matchup is later this week.
It’s hard to say how Stokes will fit in at higher levels, but the physical attributes are there. He’s 6-foot-7, 230 pounds, and has a 7-foot wingspan. If there are questions about his athleticism, see below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zeDyypP2JM
(Watch the first 30 seconds)
The biggest knock on his game is probably his defense. Big Ten Network basketball analyst and former NBA player Eldridge Recasner said, “In my three times watching him, I’ve been impressed with his offensive ability, but he doesn’t even attempt to guard anyone.”
Recasner lives locally.
Regardless of how his game translates going forward, he’ll change the atmosphere wherever he lands.
Kansas is currently listed as the front-runner, with others speculating Kentucky because he’s from Louisville.
But Oregon is still in the running, and he’s already proven that he’ll make unexpected decisions.
One thing working in the Ducks’ favor is that they have already signed Tajh Ariza. Ariza and Stokes would likely form the most elite freshman combination in the country.
Tyran is looking for a mix of elite competition and an authentic college experience.
Because of his holistic view, UO cannot be ruled out.
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