KU basketball’s first two transfer portal additions ranked in top 100 by ESPN
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- KU added Leroy Blyden Jr., ranked No. 47 on ESPN’s top-100 transfer list.
- Kansas also added Keanu Dawes, listed at No. 61 on ESPN’s transfer rankings.
- Borzello noted Blyden averaged 16.4 ppg and Dawes averaged 8.8 rpg.
Kansas men’s basketball portal additions Leroy Blyden Jr. and Keanu Dawes have both been included in ESPN’s current list of the top-100 players who have decided to switch schools for the 2026-27 season.
Former University of Toledo point guard Blyden, the reigning Mid-America Conference freshman of the year who announced for KU on Monday, has been ranked the 47th best transfer available by analyst Jeff Borzello. Former Utah forward Keanu Dawes, who committed to KU on Thursday, currently is rated No. 61 on ESPN’s top-100 transfer list.
“Another high-level freshman point guard, Blyden, was the MAC freshman of the year and earned third-team all-league honors. He was a playmaker at both ends of the floor, averaging 16.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals while shooting nearly 41% from 3,” Borzello wrote of the 6-foot-1, 170-pound sophomore-to-be. “The Detroit native had 20-plus points in five of his final six games.”
Blyden — he exploded for a season-high 36 points against Western Michigan — hit 46.1% of his shots overall including 40.7% from 3 (on 189 attempts).
He scored 36 points on 12-of-23 shooting against Western Michigan while dishing 13 assists to go with 20 points in the Rockets’ regular-season finale versus Buffalo. He had four steals in a game on five occasions.
He became a fan favorite after hitting a game-winning 3 in a 73-72 victory over rival Bowling Green before a season-high 6,850 fans who stormed the court at Toledo’s Savage Arena. Overall, Blyden started 32 of 34 games for the Rockets, who went 19-15 overall and 11-7 in the MAC.
“My dad started (training) with me when I was 3-years old. We started in the house and when I was able to shoot or push the ball high enough, my dad took me to the gym whenever he played,” Blyden said in a Q&A on Toledo’s official website.
“Ever since then I’ve just stayed in the gym. My dad helped me all the way up until I was in 10th grade before I started working with my trainer Ed Turner,” Blyden added.
Asked how growing up in his hometown of Detroit helped him become a better player, Blyden said: “When I was younger, my team would always play a grade above and I was used to playing against bigger guys. There were a lot of guys in Detroit that were good and provided good competition. We would also play against teams from Flint and Grand Rapids, which was a lot of help to me too.”
His mom, Markita, was a standout high school player in Detroit and at Lansing (Michigan) Community College.
“It’s kind of a mix. I’m trying still to this day to match Russell Westbrook’s athleticism, John Wall’s speed with the ball, Steph Curry’s shooting, and Kyrie Irving’s handle. That’s mainly it for offense,” Blyden said of players he admires. “For defense I would say I’m trying to get to the level of Jrue Holiday.”
He realizes he needs to gain some weight prior to the start of the 2026-27 season.
“I think I’ve adjusted well (to college ball), but there have been some games and sometimes in practice where I realized that I do have to get stronger,” said Blyden, who was not ranked in the high school recruiting class of 2025.
“In college, I’ve realized there are big men that are setting harder screens. They hit harder and then there are forwards that can go. Everybody’s just stronger and faster.”
He said his goals include “making it to the NBA and then stay there for a while. Off the court, I’m an international business major and would like to start my own business at some point.”
Dawes, a 6-9, 225 senior-to-be out of the University of Utah, started his career at Rice University in 2023-24 before heading to Utah of the Big 12 where he played the past two seasons.
“Dawes emerged as one of the Big 12’s best rebounders during his second season with the Utes, averaging 12.5 points and 8.8 rebounds — the latter stat ranking inside the top 50 nationally,” Borzello wrote. “He had some big-time performances late in the season, including a 22-point, 12-rebound game against Kansas and four double-doubles in his last eight games.”
Dawes hit 54.6% of his shots last season including 31.7% from 3. He had 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting (2-of-3 from 3) with 12 rebounds in a loss to KU at Allen Fieldhouse. He’s originally from Houston.
Dawes said at last year’s Big 12 media day a key for him going forward would be “taking care of my body. I feel I’m now able to play as long as I need to, whatever position I need to. Basketball wise I’ll do whatever I need to do to be on the court and do whatever it takes for the team to win.”
ESPN’s top-100 transfer list includes a pair of former KU players. Flory Bidunga, who is headed to Louisville, is listed the second overall prospect. Bryson Tiller, who is headed to Missouri, is ranked No. 38 overall.
“Tiller is poised for a breakout campaign,” Borzello wrote. “He showed flashes for the Jayhawks with more consistency in the first half of the season, but also went for 21 points against BYU then 18 points and eight rebounds against Arizona during Big 12 play. The Atlanta native is an intriguing talent who redshirted his first season in Lawrence.”
Of Bidunga, Borzello wrote: “Bidunga was one of the bigger breakout stars of the 2025-26 season, jumping from averages of 5.9 points and 5.4 rebounds to 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds, and adding 2.6 blocks per game. He established himself as one of college basketball’s elite post defenders while shooting 64% from the floor and tallying 13 double-doubles. He’s a plug-and-play player who has already won all-conference honors in the Big 12.”
