LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas basketball head coach Bill Self announced the addition of two key transfer portal signees Thursday, as forward Keanu Dawes and guard Leroy Blyden Jr. signed financial aid agreements to join the program.
Dawes, a 6-foot-9 forward, arrives in Lawrence after spending the past two seasons at Utah. He will enter his senior season with the Jayhawks, bringing size, versatility, and experience in the Big 12 Conference.
“I’ve had the chance to coach against Keanu the last two years and he is a very versatile perimeter forward,” Self said. “At 6-foot-9, he is extremely athletic and his skill set is improving. He’s a four-man that can stretch the defense.”
Dawes averaged 12.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game last season while starting all 32 contests for Utah. He recorded 11 double-doubles, including seven against Big 12 opponents, and ranked fourth in the conference in both rebounding and double-doubles. His performance included a 22-point, 12-rebound outing at Allen Fieldhouse against Kansas in February.
Prior to Utah, the Houston native began his collegiate career at Rice, where he earned AAC All-Freshman Team honors after averaging 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
Self emphasized Dawes’ defensive potential, noting his ability to guard multiple positions and make an immediate impact.
Joining Dawes is Blyden, a 6-foot-1 guard transferring from Toledo, where he earned Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year honors for the 2025-26 season.
“We felt Leroy was one of the very best guard prospects in the portal, period,” Self said. “He had a great year at Toledo… He can be the lead guard and a scoring guard.”
Blyden averaged 16.4 points per game, leading all freshmen in the Mid-American Conference, and scored in double figures in 24 games. He posted 13 games of 20 or more points, including a career-high 36-point performance against Western Michigan. The Detroit native also showcased his playmaking ability, recording eight games with six or more assists, highlighted by a 13-assist effort against Buffalo.
In addition to his scoring, Blyden ranked among the MAC leaders in steals (1.8 per game), free throw percentage (84.6%), and three-point shooting, earning All-MAC Third Team and All-Tournament Team honors.
Before his collegiate career, Blyden starred at University of Detroit Jesuit High School, finishing as runner-up for Michigan Mr. Basketball.
Dawes and Blyden join a strong Kansas recruiting class that includes previously signed freshmen Davion Adkins, Luke Barnett, Taylen Kinney, and Trent Perry, as the Jayhawks continue to reload for the upcoming season.
