Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
Freshman Leroy Blyden Jr. ranks second on the team with 15.1 points per game.
Rocket Spotlight on Leroy Blyden Jr.
1/10/2026 9:44:00 AM | Men's Basketball
On what he likes about math and science, bowling with Sonny Wilson, and the thrill of winning back-to-back national titles with his elementary school travel team
Leroy Blyden Jr. is a freshman guard on the Toledo men's basketball team. A Detroit, Mich. native, Blyden ranks second on the team with 15.1 ppg. He is majoring in international business.
On why he came to Toledo
The coaching staff and Coach Kowalczyk showed a strong interest in me when I played here at a high school summer team camp. Coach Ingram kept a strong relationship with me after that. Then when I took a visit here, everybody was positive and showed interest in me which helped me a lot in my decision.
On when he first started playing basketball
My dad started with me when I was very young. I think I was three years old. We started in the house and when I was able to shoot or push the ball high enough, my dad took me to the gym whenever he played. Ever since then I've just stayed in the gym. My dad helped me all the way up until I was in 10th grade before I started working with my trainer Ed Turner.
On how growing up in Detroit helped him become a better player
When I was younger, my team would always play a grade above and I was used to playing against bigger guys. There were a lot of guys in Detroit that were good and provided good competition. We would also play against teams from Flint and Grand Rapids which was a lot of help to me too.
On playing other sports growing up
I ran track for three or four years when I was young and then for a summer I tried swimming. I couldn't really get into those sports because I had to focus on basketball. I was at that point where I had to choose one.
On players he modeled his game after
It's kind of a mix. I'm trying still to this day to match Russell Westbrook's athleticism, John Wall's speed with the ball, Steph Curry's shooting, and Kyrie Irving's handle. That's mainly it for offense. For defense I would say I'm trying to get to the level of Jrue Holiday.
On his favorite basketball memory
It was when I was in fifth and sixth grade and we won back-to-back nationals with the Reach Dream Team. I was playing with a lot of guys who are playing college basketball right now like Darius Acuff, Dante Allen, and Sebastian Randolph. Â Nick Marsh was also on the team, and he played football at Michigan State this year.
On differences from high school to college basketball
The biggest difference for me is the speed and how everybody is bigger. In high school in Michigan, we have a lot of guards and everybody can play. There were a lot of people that were my size. Now in college it's like everybody's bigger than me but doing the same thing as the guys were in high school. The speed and physicality are a step above. We also run a lot more plays than when I was in high school.
On his relationship with the coaching staff now and how they've helped him develop
Coach Ingram has helped me a lot by watching film with me. He's taught me a lot with his experience of being a point guard that played in college and overseas. He's shown me areas where I can grow, not just offensively but in seeing defensive gaps. It's the same thing with Coach Pritzl. He's helped me on the defensive end too. Everyone on the coaching staff has helped me see the court better, make the right reads and know when to help on the defensive end.
On his adjustment to college basketball
I think I've adjusted well, but there have been some games and sometimes in practice where I realized that I do have to get stronger. In college, I've realized there are big men that are setting harder screens. They hit harder and then there's forwards that can go. Everybody's just stronger and faster.
On his favorite subjects in school
I would say math and science. They come pretty easy to me and are not overly complicated. I like the numbers and the formulas with them. I like that you know if you're right or wrong when you're trying to figure out the answer to a problem.
On hobbies and what he likes doing away from basketball
A hobby I picked up since coming here last summer is bowling. Being here with Sonny (Wilson) and a couple of guys from Michigan, we like to go bowling a lot. I like listening to music a lot too and playing video games like Call of Duty, NBA2K and Grand Theft Auto.
On future goals
I want to make it to the NBA and then stay there for a while. Off the court, I'm an international business my and would like to start my own business at some point.
On why he came to Toledo
The coaching staff and Coach Kowalczyk showed a strong interest in me when I played here at a high school summer team camp. Coach Ingram kept a strong relationship with me after that. Then when I took a visit here, everybody was positive and showed interest in me which helped me a lot in my decision.
On when he first started playing basketball
My dad started with me when I was very young. I think I was three years old. We started in the house and when I was able to shoot or push the ball high enough, my dad took me to the gym whenever he played. Ever since then I've just stayed in the gym. My dad helped me all the way up until I was in 10th grade before I started working with my trainer Ed Turner.
On how growing up in Detroit helped him become a better player
When I was younger, my team would always play a grade above and I was used to playing against bigger guys. There were a lot of guys in Detroit that were good and provided good competition. We would also play against teams from Flint and Grand Rapids which was a lot of help to me too.
On playing other sports growing up
I ran track for three or four years when I was young and then for a summer I tried swimming. I couldn't really get into those sports because I had to focus on basketball. I was at that point where I had to choose one.
On players he modeled his game after
It's kind of a mix. I'm trying still to this day to match Russell Westbrook's athleticism, John Wall's speed with the ball, Steph Curry's shooting, and Kyrie Irving's handle. That's mainly it for offense. For defense I would say I'm trying to get to the level of Jrue Holiday.
On his favorite basketball memory
It was when I was in fifth and sixth grade and we won back-to-back nationals with the Reach Dream Team. I was playing with a lot of guys who are playing college basketball right now like Darius Acuff, Dante Allen, and Sebastian Randolph. Â Nick Marsh was also on the team, and he played football at Michigan State this year.
On differences from high school to college basketball
The biggest difference for me is the speed and how everybody is bigger. In high school in Michigan, we have a lot of guards and everybody can play. There were a lot of people that were my size. Now in college it's like everybody's bigger than me but doing the same thing as the guys were in high school. The speed and physicality are a step above. We also run a lot more plays than when I was in high school.
On his relationship with the coaching staff now and how they've helped him develop
Coach Ingram has helped me a lot by watching film with me. He's taught me a lot with his experience of being a point guard that played in college and overseas. He's shown me areas where I can grow, not just offensively but in seeing defensive gaps. It's the same thing with Coach Pritzl. He's helped me on the defensive end too. Everyone on the coaching staff has helped me see the court better, make the right reads and know when to help on the defensive end.
On his adjustment to college basketball
I think I've adjusted well, but there have been some games and sometimes in practice where I realized that I do have to get stronger. In college, I've realized there are big men that are setting harder screens. They hit harder and then there's forwards that can go. Everybody's just stronger and faster.
On his favorite subjects in school
I would say math and science. They come pretty easy to me and are not overly complicated. I like the numbers and the formulas with them. I like that you know if you're right or wrong when you're trying to figure out the answer to a problem.
On hobbies and what he likes doing away from basketball
A hobby I picked up since coming here last summer is bowling. Being here with Sonny (Wilson) and a couple of guys from Michigan, we like to go bowling a lot. I like listening to music a lot too and playing video games like Call of Duty, NBA2K and Grand Theft Auto.
On future goals
I want to make it to the NBA and then stay there for a while. Off the court, I'm an international business my and would like to start my own business at some point.
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