MBB Recruiting Update: Part II

Kendre is a 6’7”, 243 lb. big man, who is currently a consensus 4-star recruit, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina. Don’t let his size fool you though. This dude is a freak athlete. One thing I probably should’ve mentioned, is that in addition to being a top 100 recruit in basketball, he’s also the #25 overall recruit in football. He’s currently ranked as the #2 tight end in his class and possesses a massive 6-foot-11 wingspan and monster 10.5inch hands. On the court, though, he reminds me a lot of Jordan Bell, but bigger. Not taller, BIGGER. The guy is a force out there, moving people at will and protecting the paint like it were his own house. And, thanks to his football background, he runs the floor pretty well also. I think if he continues playing both sports (we all know what happened with Arik Armstead lol), he could be really fun to watch both the hardwood AND gridiron.

Tajh Ariza is a 5-star recruit who committed to Oregon at the beginning of October. The 6’9” 200lb. forward is the oldest son of 18-year NBA veteran Trevor Ariza and is currently (according to 24/7) the 4th highest commit in program history (with Kwame Evans Jr., and Malik Hariston). Ariza, much like his father, is a naturally athletic player. And he really showcases that athleticism throughout his game, from fluidity in the open court/transition, to having the ability to switch and cover any position on the floor defensively. He averaged a massive 27 points and 14 rebounds a game as a junior at Westchester Highschool but will be transferring to St. John Bosco for his senior season. With his combination of size, athleticism, and length (7-foot-wingspan), he has all the tools to become a star both at Oregon and eventually in the NBA.

Another name to look out for: Tyran Stokes. The #1 overall prospect in the 2026 class. He has named Oregon as a top-5 finalist, alongside Kentucky, Kansas, USC and Louisville. But, he recently signed an NIL deal with Nike, which likely puts Kansas and Louisville (both Adidas schools) out of the running. No commitment date has been set, but keep your eyes peeled.

Stokes is hands down the most talented player in the 2026 class, and that’s even taking into account that his jumper is the weakest part of his game. He is very athletic, and looks like a freight train when he gets going, but can also create off the dribble and has a legitimate handle, which is surprising considering his size (6’7”, 230lbs, 7-foot wingspan). Defensively, he’s already good, but has the athletic tools to be great if he fully commits to working on defense, and not just relying on his size to make plays. As I mentioned before, his jumper might be the weakest part of his overall game, but he’s made some pretty big strides over the last couple years, shooting ~36% from three last season, albeit on only 3 attempts per game.

Coach Altman and Co. will always find some other players that aren’t on anyone else’s radar (Wei Lin, anyone?), but these are just the most notable guys thus far. They’ve already got two really good players coming in, but if they can get Stokes to commit too? Hoo boy, that’ll be a pretty stacked incoming group.