Kansas moved one step closer to finalizing its roster for the 2026-27 season after the men’s college basketball transfer portal window closed, with the Jayhawks adding Utah forward Keanu Dawes and Toledo transfer Leroy Blyden Jr. as they continue to build around an expected starting group that includes incoming five-star freshman point guard Taylen Kinney.
Dawes and Blyden are expected to step in quickly for Kansas, and the Jayhawks are still looking for another transfer who can either start at center or back up Paul Mbiya, who officially announced his return on Tuesday. Christian Reeves, Anton Bonke and Gabe Dynes are among the centers Kansas is tracking, leaving one more major spot to settle before the lineup comes into view.
That unfinished business is where Tyran Stokes enters the picture. The consensus No. 1 player in the 2026 class, Stokes led Rainier Beach in Seattle to a state championship and was recently named MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic. Kansas and Kentucky have been the two primary contenders for him over the past several months, turning his recruitment into a two-horse race that could shape how the Jayhawks finish their class.
Kansas did not add a transfer option for the No. 3 wing spot while the portal was open, a decision that now looks less like a miss than a bet. The program appears to be keeping that position open with Stokes in mind, building around point guard and wing while waiting to see whether the No. 1 player in the 2026 class chooses Lawrence or Lexington. For now, the roster is close enough to see the outline, but not finished enough to hide what remains at stake.
