Leroy Blyden Jr. Picked Kansas Over St. John's and Now the MAC's Best Freshman Guard Is Gone

The transfer portal just landed Kansas a serious upgrade at point guard. Leroy Blyden Jr., the MAC Freshman of the Year, has committed to the Jayhawks after one season at Toledo. This is the kind of move that changes how a program operates, and the Rockets are watching their star walk right out the door.

What Blyden Was Doing at Toledo

Look at the numbers and you understand why Kansas moved fast. Blyden averaged 16.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists across 34 games for Toledo in 2025-26, starting 32 of those. He shot 40.7% from three-point range. The kid was also a pest on defense, averaging 1.8 steals per game. That's the kind of two-way freshman who doesn't sit around waiting. He made All-MAC Third Team, and Kansas essentially said "we'll take it from here."

Why Kansas Moved On This

Blyden had other options. St. John's came calling, but he turned them down to join Bill Self's program. That tells you something about where he sees his future. Kansas is also getting forward Keanu Dawes from Utah in the transfer portal, so the Jayhawks are building something real in the offseason. Two solid portal pieces means they're not standing still.

The Competition He Turned Down

It's worth noting Blyden was runner-up for Michigan's Mr. Basketball honor in 2025, losing out to Michigan freshman Trey McKenney. So he was competing at a high level out of the gate. Kansas is banking that a full year in Lawrence, with better resources and a bigger stage, turns a MAC Freshman of the Year into something closer to a national player.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.