Memphis native and IMG Academy big man Isaiah Stokes has signed with the Florida Gators, he told ESPN on Friday.
There was some uncertainty whether the 6-foot-9, 255-pound younger brother of NBA free-agent forward Jarnell Stokes had signed with the Gators. He told ESPN he signed with the Gators during the early signing period, but he had hoped to keep it quiet until he returned home for Christmas break so he could make an announcement in front of his family.
"My brother did that, and I was there," Isaiah Stokes said. "So I wanted to do it in front of my 9-year-old sister, Kaitlin."
Stokes, who is No. 60 in the ESPN 100 rankings, said he chose Florida over Iowa State, Tennessee, TCU and North Carolina.
"My heart was at Florida," Stokes said. "I love the plan that Coach (Mike) White has for me. Coach said he's going to give me the opportunity to expand my game. It's a great program and I felt like it was the best fit for me."
Stokes was a two-sport star until about a year ago, when he decided to give up football. He played both sports as a sophomore in high school, but gave up football and lost about 50 pounds in order to focus on basketball.
Jarnell Stokes played 28 games for three NBA teams over three seasons, and he was waived by the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 15.
"That's my love -- basketball," Isaiah Stokes said.
