Stanford has announced the addition of Jaylen Blakes from Duke University, marking their first graduate transfer and the fourth transfer under Kyle Smith, the Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men’s Basketball.
“Jaylen Blakes brings athleticism and experience to our backcourt,” said Smith. “Offensively, he has the ability to score and distribute effectively, using his strength and quickness to get into the paint, while also posing a threat from beyond the arc with his three-point shooting.”
Blakes, a three-year graduate from Duke and a two-time ACC all-academic honoree, played 83 games with three starts over his tenure with the Blue Devils. Averaging 2.2 points and 1.0 rebounds per game, he was known for his defensive prowess. In his junior year, he averaged 1.8 points per game and achieved a career-best 21 steals, contributing to Duke’s advance to the NCAA Elite Eight. As a freshman, he helped the team reach the NCAA Final Four in the 2021-22 season.
“Defensively, Jaylen provides us with a tenacious mentality,” added Smith. “His ability to guard the ball is crucial for our defense. As a college graduate, we will rely on his maturity and leadership. He has exemplified being a true student-athlete and his knowledge of the league will be beneficial as we transition into the ACC.”
Initially joining Duke as a four-star, top-100 recruit, Blakes was highly ranked by On3 and ESPN, being recognized as the top player in New Jersey by On3 and the second-best by ESPN. He chose Duke over many high major programs, including Stanford.
Blakes joins Oziyah Sellers (USC), Derin Saran (UC Irvine), and Chisom Okpara (Harvard) as the fourth incoming transfer in the Kyle Smith era at Stanford.
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