All the buzz around Kansas this season starts with Tyran Stokes, but the Jayhawks may have found their real backcourt swing piece in Leroy Blyden Jr.
Kansas landed the Toledo transfer first in the portal this offseason, and he arrives in Lawrence with a résumé that already looks the part. Blyden, who is heading into his sophomore year, was the MAC Freshman of the Year and also picked up third-team All-MAC honors after a strong debut season with the Rockets.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard gives Kansas something it has been looking for: a reliable outside shooter. On a roster with some real questions from 3-point range, Blyden stands out as the most established perimeter threat on the team. He knocked down better than 40% of his 5.6 attempts per game last season at Toledo.
That kind of production is why there’s real breakout potential here, even if Kansas has not always hit big on portal additions in recent years. Blyden looks different. He’s projected to start at point guard next to fellow backcourt teammate Taylen Kinney, forming a young and intriguing guard pairing for Bill Self’s team.
The Detroit native also brings more than just shooting. He was one of the top-20 freshman scorers in the country last season, and his game is built on burst and pressure.
He’s a twitchy handler with a quick first step who can get downhill and finish at the rim. Self said after Kansas got him in April that Blyden was "one of the very best guard prospects in the portal".
His numbers back up the eye test. At Toledo, Blyden averaged 16.4 points, 4.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. He also finished in the 90th percentile in assist-to-turnover ratio as a freshman, a sign that he can run an offense without losing control of it.
That’s what makes him so interesting for Kansas. Blyden isn’t just a catch-and-shoot guard or a secondary piece.
He’s a three-level scorer who can create separation on his own, and that skill set gives the Jayhawks a type of lead guard they haven’t had in a while. Dajuan Harris and Melvin Council Jr. each brought value, but neither offered the same kind of self-created scoring.
With Stokes expected to soak up most of the defensive attention, Blyden should get room to operate. If he takes the step Kansas thinks he can, he won’t just be part of the story this season. He could become one of the conference’s best young guards for years to come.
In Other News...
Kansas May Have Found The Position That Changes Everything Next Season
Kansas has spent the offseason looking for easier points, and the shooting guard room may end up being the place where that search starts to pay off. Kohl Rosario flashed some encouraging moments as a freshman, while Dennis Parker Jr. arrives with the reputation of a scorer after what he showed at Radford, and Luke Barnett has been part of the conversation as someone who has quickly made a good impression in workouts.
Bill Self has already pointed to Barnett as one of the more encouraging developments of the summer, which matters because the Jayhawks do not need this group to be perfect, just productive enough to widen the floor and lighten the load on the rest of the roster. The upside is obvious if even one of these guards takes a real step forward, but Kansas still has to find out which of them can turn offseason buzz into consistent production when the games count. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Has A Crucial Defensive Battle Taking Shape In Camp
Fall camp has started to clarify one of the more interesting competitions on Kansas defense, and its centered on the nickel spot. Defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald said the Jayhawks are sorting through a rotation there, leaning on a mix of older and younger players with different skill sets as they learn the physical and mental demands that come with the job.
Elijah Cannon and Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman are part of that extended look, and the position has become a daily test of how well each defender can handle coverage responsibilities while still bringing something extra to the table. New assistant backs coach Duane Akina is working closely with the nickel group, while the unit has also spent time sharpening pass-rush work with defensive ends coach Joe Dineen, another sign that Kansas wants the position to be more than just a coverage stopgap. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Defense Has One Position Group Fans Should Worry About
Kansas is heading into the season with a defense that looks better stocked in some spots than others, and the clearest reason for optimism starts up front. The Jayhawks defensive end group stands out as the deepest and most talented part of the unit, with Alex Bray, Leroy Harris III, David Santiago and Dakyus Brinkley giving the staff a mix of proven pieces and options that should help keep the pass rush steady.
The concern comes inside, where the defensive tackle room is the one group that leaves the most questions. Losing TreVon McAlpine in the offseason changed the outlook there, and it pushed that position to the bottom of the confidence rankings even as the rest of the defense appears on track to improve overall. For Kansas, how well that interior group holds up may end up shaping just how far the Jayhawks can take the next step. [Read more 🡒]