DePaul added a former top-25, four-star prospect with the addition of Arkansas transfer Layden Blocker.
“We are excited about the addition of Layden to our DePaul program,” said head coach Chris Holtmann. “He is a dynamic guard with the ability to defend multiple positions at a high level and really impact the game with his speed and athleticism, both in transition and the half court. Layden showed a strong desire to continue to improve his game thru our player development program. He is young for his class and his upside as a player is something we are really looking forward to developing as a coaching staff.”
Playing on an experienced Arkansas team, littered with upperclassmen, Blocker saw action in 27 games with five starts. He shot 40.3 percent from the floor as a true freshman and averaged 1.0 assists per game and 0.8 steals. His career-best game came at Florida where he scored 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting with four rebounds and two steals.
A consensus four-star prospect out of high school, Blocker was rated as high as 24th nationally by Rivals.com and was one of 50 players nationally named to the 2023 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year Watch List. He helped lead Sunrise Christian Academy to a No. 4 national ranking and reach the High School Nationals semifinals, including a quarterfinal win over top-ranked Montverde Academy.
During his prep career, Blocker also participated in the USA Basketball Junior National Team Minicamp and the NBA Players Association Top 100 camp. He also played for Bradley Beal Elite in the Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) where he averaged 15.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
Blocker is the 12th newcomer for DePaul’s 2024-25 roster, including 10 transfers and a pair of incoming freshmen.
(Release via DePaul)
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