Tyran Stokes, widely regarded as the No. 1 high school basketball recruit in the Class of 2026, has made a surprising and high-profile move: he has enrolled at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, Washington, for his senior season. After withdrawing from Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks) in California earlier in November, the 6-foot-7, 225–pound forward’s decision to head north has sparked major buzz across the high-school basketball world.
Stokes’ time at Notre Dame ended abruptly in early November, when the school announced he had withdrawn. The move came amid reported disciplinary issues, including altercations with other students and a suspension that sidelined him from several high-school football games earlier in the fall. Despite that turbulent exit, Stokes remains one of the nation’s most coveted players: all major recruiting services rank him No. 1 overall in the 2026 class.
At Notre Dame last season, Stokes proved why he’s considered elite. He averaged approximately 21.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, posting 17 double-doubles and earning First Team MaxPreps Junior All-America honors. Those are dominant numbers, and they paint a picture of a versatile forward who can score, rebound, and facilitate for others.
Why Rainier Beach? On one level, the move gives Stokes a fresh start: a new school, a new environment, and a chance to reset after a rocky exit from Notre Dame. But perhaps more importantly, Rainier Beach offers pedigree. The Vikings, fresh off a WIAA 3A state championship and a 28–3 season, already come into the 2025–26 campaign with high expectations. Under longtime coach Mike Bethea, Rainier Beach has a history of developing top-tier talent and competing for state titles.
With Stokes on board, the Vikings instantly become one of the nation’s most watchable high-school teams. If cleared to play, Stokes could serve as a matchup nightmare, a big, athletic wing with scoring, rebounding, and playmaking ability, capable of pushing Rainier Beach from a strong state contender to a national-level threat.
On the recruitment front, Stokes hasn’t changed his options. He reportedly remains down to three major college programs: Kansas Jayhawks, Kentucky Wildcats and Oregon Ducks, and all remain very much in the mix. His senior season at Rainier Beach could be the defining chapter that solidifies where he lands in college, and sets the tone for his path to college basketball (and potentially beyond).
That said, this is still a chapter of transition. The reasons behind his departure from Notre Dame, disciplinary issues, a brief foray into football, and general uncertainty, have not been fully detailed publicly. What’s clear is that Stokes sees Rainier Beach as a place to reboot, finish his high school career, and show what he can do under the spotlight in Seattle.
As of now, the 2025–26 Washington high-school basketball season is just around the corner, and all eyes will be on Rainier Beach, a school suddenly thrust into the national spotlight with the arrival of one of the country’s top recruits. If Stokes lives up to his billing, this could be one of the most storied high-school seasons Seattle has seen in years.