KU ROSTER 2026-27
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Should we be worried that the day has come and gone without news of a commitment from Blyden?
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@Jayhawk_69 well he’s still in Lawrence so… no.
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Hill to Tennessee. 5th signing for the Vols. Hoosiers have 6 inked, all high major transfers. Other top teams have 2 to 3 quality transfers committed. Other schools are able to get key players to stay, in many cases not even testing the portal. Illinois has almost everyone coming back who is eligible. Mullins coming back to UConn even though he is a possible lottery pick. Dawes is it so far - decent player on a mediocre team. Even if Blyden commits, that's pretty thin gruel compared to others. Guys visiting and then signing elsewhere or dropping planned visits. What is going on in Lawrence???
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I like PF Allen Graves. He's not outrageously athletic, but the kid can play. It would be costly NIL, because he could stay in the draft, but I think he comes back for another year. I know we signed Dawes... but their styles are completely different and in most games, we can play without a footer in the paint.
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@wissox83 it’s a little more surprising for Tiller with him being here for almost two years which is enough for most to hate Fizzou. In terms of Elmarko my inside sources told me he was really feeling like he let the program down after being a top 20 recruit and giving up that final bucket to St Johns he felt like he had to go get a fresh start. Prob more so about the opportunity to get minutes over anything.
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@kjayhawks2.0 I forgot he was a 2 year guy.
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Leroy Blyden Jr to the HAWKS
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Bylden has committed. Good pickup. We need lots more though
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Just saw that too. What are initial thoughts on this one?
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Huge pickup. Guys going to be such a stud. Finishes with both hands in traffic. 5 assists a game. 40% from deep (and 85% from the stripe another good shooter indicator).
I love the two additions. Efficient scorers.
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I only question if he athletic enough to play major college ball. He looks good on film and seems to be a guy that can get a shot whenever he wants, we really need that again. Think even with DP we haven’t had that since Jwill. We need what I call a sit down and shut up player. Thats what you need to win on the road when the home team is making a run and a guy can go get a tough bucket. Mason, Graham, Ochai, Braun and Jwill were the last of those players IMO.
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@kjayhawks2.0 said in KU ROSTER 2026-27:
I only question if he athletic enough to play major college ball. He looks good on film and seems to be a guy that can get a shot whenever he wants, we really need that again. Think even with DP we haven’t had that since Jwill. We need what I call a sit down and shut up player. Thats what you need to win on the road when the home team is making a run and a guy can go get a tough bucket. Mason, Graham, Ochai, Braun and Jwill were the last of those players IMO.
You ask the key question. As I noted in an earlier post, he has played exactly one game against a P5 team - Michigan State - and results were not good in that game. The issue with mid-major players is always whether they can generate the same numbers against much better day in and day out competition. The results haven't been great for KU in that regard.
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The good news is he’s just a freshman. Put him in an elite S&C program like ours and he’ll get even better.
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He looks pretty athletic in his highlights. 2 steals per game is a great sign also, signals good effort and means he could still be solid on defense despite his size
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Regarding his bad game against Michigan State, I agree that him only having one game against P5 competition last year is a bit concerning. However, there are a couple of things that should be noted. Michigan State had the best defensive point guard in the country last year in Jeremy Fears. Struggling against him is not the same as struggling against an average P5 defense. Also, that was early in the season and Toledo fans seem to unanimously agree that Blyden got better and better throughout the season. Who knows how late-season Blyden would have performed against MSU.
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@Jayhawk_69 I'm not suggesting putting too much stock in the MSU game - more that he simply did not have to go against high major competition the entire season.
The question is whether his skills/numbers will translate as well against bigger, more athletic guards? Apart from scoring or distributing, can he defend 6'5" guys who have 20+ lbs on him?
Again, the track record generally and for us specifically suggests no. Have any of our mid-major transfers matched their former school stats? Mayo and Council close, but others have not with most barely getting off the bench.
I do hope that Blyden is the exception...
Btw - Blyden and Dawes get us up to #32 in the 247 transfer rankings - behind 5 other B12 schools (and with virtually nothing coming back).
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I agree it is possible that Blyden does not adjust well to playing with us. However, he does have the tools to: good shooting stroke, quickness, and court vision.
As for our transfer class rating, worrying about that right now is like criticizing a cake for tasting bad when you haven't even put it in the oven yet.
I'm not all sunshine and rainbows about our upcoming season. It might not go well at all but I think we need to hold our horses instead of panicking.
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Feeling more and more like we will have Mbiya and Reeves rotation at the 5. Don’t love it but if it allows you to add Stokes and Miller I’m cool with it.
Still fear this team doesn’t have a true PG, but maybe because I’m just not that high on Kinney.
