Tyran Stokes Ranked No. 1 in ESPN 2027 Big Board
ESPN's initial 2027 NBA Draft big board places Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes at the top of its rankings.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Basketball
ESPN revealed its initial 2027 NBA Draft big board on Thursday, ranking Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes No. 1. The ranking follows Stokes opening at No. 1 in Jeremy Woo's early 2027 NBA mock draft this summer.
Why it matters
Stokes' ranking reflects his skill set as the college season gets underway, giving him an early edge in draft projections. NBA evaluators are looking for better efficiency, consistency and maturity from him as he develops.
If Stokes is taken No. 1 in the 2027 NBA Draft, he would be the third player in Kansas history selected first overall, joining Danny Manning (1988) and Andrew Wiggins (2014). The early ranking is a projection, and his position may shift as evaluators track his efficiency, consistency and maturity through the season.
The players
Tyran Stokes
Tyran Stokes is a freshman basketball player at the University of Kansas who is projected as a top prospect for the 2027 NBA Draft.
Jeremy Woo
Jeremy Woo is an NBA Draft analyst and writer for ESPN who publishes mock drafts and draft rankings.
Bill Self
Bill Self is the head men's basketball coach at the University of Kansas, a longtime leader of the Jayhawks program.
The details
Jeremy Woo, an NBA Draft analyst and writer for ESPN, placed Stokes at the top of his early 2027 mock draft this summer and again in the big board rankings. Stokes has played stellar performances in preseason play and had an opening night against Fordham this week, and Kansas head coach Bill Self spoke about him at Big 12 Media Days.
Timeline
Summer 2026: Stokes opened at No. 1 in Woo's early 2027 NBA mock draft.
Thursday, November 5, 2026: ESPN revealed its initial 2027 NBA Draft big board.
Summer 2027: The 2027 NBA Draft takes place.
Season Trajectory
If Stokes is selected first overall, he would join Danny Manning and Andrew Wiggins as the only Kansas players taken No. 1 in the draft. The projection places his prospects among the program's most significant NBA draft outcomes in recent decades.
A projected No. 1 pick would make Stokes a central figure in early 2027 draft discussions and fantasy and dynasty prospect rankings. His ranking may also shape how fans follow Kansas basketball this season as scouts track his progress.
The takeaway
Stokes' early No. 1 ranking reflects how quickly NBA evaluators are paying attention to freshman prospects, and his progress in efficiency, consistency and maturity will determine whether the projection holds. Readers tracking the draft can follow how his performances develop through the season.
What happens next
The 2027 NBA Draft will take place next summer, when Stokes' draft position will be determined.
Further reading
For more on the program, see Basketball coverage of Kansas's freshmen and draft prospects.
