Stokes was a dominant force in college basketball, leading St. Francis to two consecutive National Invitational Tournament (NIT) championships in 1955 and 1956. He was named the MVP of the tournament both years and was selected as a first-team All-American in 1956.
Stokes was drafted by the Rochester Royals in the 1956 NBA draft and quickly established himself as one of the league's best players. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1957 and was selected to the All-Star team in 1958. He was also named to the All-NBA first team in both 1957 and 1958.
Stokes' career was tragically cut short in 1958 when he suffered a severe head injury during a game. He was left paralyzed and unable to play basketball again. Despite his injury, Stokes was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.
Stokes' legacy lives on in the NBA today. He was one of the first African-American players to make an impact in the league and his success paved the way for future generations of players. He is remembered as one of the greatest players of his era and his career is an inspiration to many.
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