Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 nationally ranked boys basketball recruit, has enrolled at Rainier Beach for his high school senior season and was on campus Thursday, according to multiple reports.
The 6-7, 230-pound small forward joins a decorated program that went 28-3 last season en route to winning its 10th state title. The five-star recruit will be coached by Michael Bethea, who has led the Vikings for over 30 years, and 20-year NBA star Jamal Crawford, a Seattle-raised, Rainier Beach alum who won the state title in 1998. Crawford’s son, JJ Crawford, is also on the team.
The Vikings’ season begins Nov. 29 with a nonleague game against Kennedy Catholic at home.
Stokes is eligible to play for Rainier Beach per the WIAA rulebook's section 18.12.2.1, which requires a student whose transfer to a new school or school district is based on a bona fide change of residence to a new school or school district due to an actual physical relocation of and with the entire family unit to a different residence and coupled with termination of all occupancy of their previous residence. Stokes withdrew from Notre Dame in Sherman Oaks, Calif., in early November after “facing disciplinary issues at the school, including altercations with students,” according to Sports Illustrated’s Tarek Fattal.
“He served a suspension that kept him sidelined during multiple high school football games this season, and has not been at school this week, according to sources close to the situation,” Fattel added.
“Notre Dame High School acknowledges Tyran Stokes’ decision to withdraw and explore new opportunities,” Notre Dame athletic director Alex Moss said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. “We appreciate the contributions he made to our basketball program and community during his time here. We wish Tyran all the best as he pursues his future goals, and we are confident he will find success.”
“Stokes is the most talented prospect in the national class and a unique matchup for opposing defenders,” 247Sports director of basketball scouting Adam Finkelstein wrote. “At 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds with a 7-foot wingspan, he’s powerful, long, and explosively athletic. But while he’s built like a forward, he can make plays like a guard with an ability to create off the dribble and an innate understanding of how to instinctively find a path to the rim, even when one doesn’t seem to initially present itself. He’s especially lethal getting downhill in the open floor and loves to take the ball off the defensive glass and start the break himself.”
After receiving 25 college offers, Stokes narrowed his choices down to Kentucky, Kansas and Oregon on Nov. 1, taking official visits to all three schools.
Stokes debuted as the top player in his class when 247Sports Composite revealed its initial rankings in October 2023. He averaged 21 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game last season, his first with Notre Dame after spending his first two years at Prolific Prep.