Florida adds three-star power forward

Florida has added a third member to its 2017 recruiting class. Isaiah Stokes, a 6-foot-8, 250 pound power forward from IMG Academy by way of Memphis, quietly signed his letter of intent during the early period.

It was Stokes’ desire to have a “silent” signing so that he may have a ceremony in Memphis during IMG Academy’s holiday break that his parents could attend.

Those plans were ruined when news of his signing leaked Wednesday afternoon.

The three-star prospect chose Florida over Iowa State, North Carolina, Tennessee and TCU.

The Memphis native is a highly skilled and versatile prospect with elite footwork who can get his in the paint or step out and knock down jump shots out to the three-point arc. A good passer and respectable ball handler for his size, Stokes has a solid feel for the game. While not an explosive athlete, Stokes is strong, moves swiftly rim-to-rim, and knows how to use his body to create space. He is a good finisher with a good nose for the ball.

Stokes, the younger brother of former Tennessee stand-out Jarnell Stokes, was a high profile football prospect as an offensive lineman who held offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and others. But Stokes decided to focus on basketball, changed his body and worked relentlessly on his skills. A solid July on the AAU circuit bolstered his profile, particularly when North Carolina offered in August.

Russ Wood is a contributing national basketball recruiting analyst for Rivals.com and InsideTheGators.com. You can click here to follow him on Twitter