Colorado Springs – Tyran Stokes scribbled furiously on a sheet of paper during the 2025 USA Basketball Men’s U19 National Team’s practice Monday.

Although Stokes, sporting a hoodie, sweats and slides, suffered a minor injury to his lower left leg during Sunday’s practice and sat out Monday’s drills, the nation’s No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2026 remained a student of the game.

“They installed a couple of new things and I wanted to catch on to what they were doing,” Stokes said of his notes. “I asked a couple of people and they gave me the information on what it was so I would remember. I wrote down the defensive plays and terminology that I have to learn.”

Stokes had a small limp as he walked from the bench to the huddle between drills at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center but wore no brace or ice during Monday’s practice. Stokes said the injury “isn’t too serious” and hopes to make the cut for the final 12 players named to the 2025 USA Basketball U19 team, which will have its last cuts Tuesday as the team preps for the 2025 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup in Switzerland from June 28-July 6.

Tommy Lloyd, University of Arizona and U19 coach, spoke glowingly about the 6-foot-7 senior from Notre Dame High School in Napa, California, and his skills.

“Ty has tremendous potential and is a great young man,” Lloyd said. “He has the ability to play with great effort and great force. His skills and IQ are getting up to speed fast and I’m excited. We don’t think his injury is serious, so we’re hoping to get him back in a day or two and throw him in the mix.”

Stokes averaged 21 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals last season as a junior. As a senior, he expects to embrace the role of leader and in May told ESPN’s Paul Biancardi, “I’m ready to embrace the challenge and to be more of a leader as a senior.”

The five-star recruit called the injury a “stepping stone” toward success and believes this will allow him to embrace a different role on the floor.

“Kobe (Bryant) was hurt and still had to lead his team the right way in victory,” Stokes said. “If I’m on the sideline, I still have to be the player-coach that I can be. I’m always communicating with my teammates and asking questions or giving advice. If I see something I think they messed up on, I’ll bring them to the side and say, ‘You should’ve seen that cut to the corner.’ I just try to give my input on what I see.”