Stanford’s men’s basketball team has bolstered its roster with the addition of Jaylen Blakes from Duke University. Blakes is the fourth transfer and the first graduate transfer under Kyle Smith, the Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men’s Basketball.
“Adding Jaylen Blakes to our team enhances us on many levels. He will provide us with athleticism and experience in the backcourt,” said Smith. “Offensively, he has the ability to score and distribute by getting paint touches with his strength and quickness, while also keeping defenses honest with the ability to knock down 3-pointers.”
Blakes, a three-year graduate from Duke and a two-time all-academic honoree in the ACC, appeared in 83 games with three starts over three seasons with the Blue Devils. He averaged 2.2 points and 1.0 rebounds per game and was recognized as one of the program’s top defensive players. In his junior year, Blakes averaged 1.8 points per game and recorded a career-best 21 steals, contributing to Duke’s run to the NCAA Elite Eight. He also played in the NCAA Final Four as a freshman in the 2021-22 season.
“Defensively, Jaylen gives us a defender with a pit bull mentality,” continued Smith. “He has the ability to guard the ball, which is vital to setting any defense. As a college graduate, we will lean into his maturity and leadership. He has been a great role model and leader as a true student-athlete in prep school and college, and his knowledge and experience of the league will be helpful as we transition into the ACC.”
Blakes joined Duke as a four-star, top-100 recruit according to On3 and ESPN. He was ranked as high as No. 74 nationally and was the top-rated player in New Jersey by On3. ESPN ranked him No. 89 nationally and the second-best player in New Jersey. Initially, Blakes chose Duke over several high-major programs, including Stanford.
Blakes is the fourth incoming transfer during Kyle Smith’s tenure, joining Oziyah Sellers (USC), Derin Saran (UC Irvine), and Chisom Okpara (Harvard).
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