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Bill Self reveals which newcomer he has been most impressed with so far

Kansas Jayhawk fans have a new player to deem their latest star.
ByConnor Mardian|
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Mar 14, 2026; Cleveland, OH, USA; Toledo Rockets guard Leroy Blyden Jr. (2) celebrates after hitting a three point basket against the Akron Zips during the first half of the men’s Mid-American Conference Championship at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Mar 14, 2026; Cleveland, OH, USA; Toledo Rockets guard Leroy Blyden Jr. (2) celebrates after hitting a three point basket against the Akron Zips during the first half of the men’s Mid-American Conference Championship at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The Kansas Jayhawks will be largely made up of newcomers next season. Barring Kohl Rosario and Paul Mbiya, everyone else will be either a transfer or a freshman, setting up a team with a lot of variables. 

However, when speaking with the media earlier this week, head coach Bill Self was asked which player he was excited about, and his answer of Leroy Byden Jr. should come as no shock. 

“Yeah, I watched Leroy shoot today. It's pretty impressive. I think there's going to be more [players who stand out], but I think he's going to be very good.”

Blyden stood out as one of the nation’s best young guards in the NCAA Transfer Portal. In just one year at Toledo, Blyden notched 16.4 points, 4.5 assists and four rebounds on a strong 46.1% rate from the field, along with 40.7% from beyond the arc. 

The Rockets notched a 19-15 record last season, which ended against Akron in the Mid-American Conference Championship game in a heartbreaking 79-76 loss for Blyden and Co.

Blyden finished with a season-high of 36 points, on a 12-23 mark from the field in Toledo’s 84-79 win over Western Michigan in late December. 

According to John Hollinger’s game score metric, which measures players’ production, Blyden averaged a 13.5 game score. Well above what Hollinger defines as “average” at 10. Of course, there may be a bit of a learning curve as Blyden faced just one power-conference team last season in Michigan State, as obviously at KU the competition is much more stifling. 

Upon entering the portal, Blyden was ranked as the nation’s No. 93 player and No. 17 point guard. 

“It was one of my staff that identified him. The thing about it is, he's not big. He's little; we will play two little guards. But he's fast. He's got it on the string and he can shoot the ball. And he’s a point guard, skill guy that can score. So to me he's a combo. Just like, TK's [Taylen Kinney] a combo as well. I’ve easily done my best when I have combo guards,” finished Self.

Kansas’ lineup begins to take shape

Trying to figure out the backcourt situation for the Jayhawks has been one of the toughest tasks so far this offseason. With Kinney expected to become the team’s primary point guard, it would mean that Blyden, who naturally is a point guard, would have to move to shooting guard. However, Blyden was used off-ball several times at Toledo, and Self seems to have enough confidence to give him the reins at the two spot next season. 

Projecting Kansas’ starting five for next season, as of this week’s comments, is now made a lot easier. 

PG: Taylen Kinney 

SG: Leory Blyden Jr

SF: Tyran Stokes

PF: Keanu Dawes

C: Paul Mbiya

This is likely as balanced a lineup as you will get; Kinney, Blyden and Stokes fit a do-it-all mold. Dawes brings a wealth of experience along with expert rebounding attributes, and while Mbiya will only be a sophomore, expect a big jump in his production as he and the recovering Christian Reeves will be duking it out for starting minutes.

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