INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI basketball program has announced the signing of Buffalo-transfer Kidtrell Blocker to an athletics aid agreement to join the program, beginning with the 2023-2024 season. Blocker, a native of Rochester, N.Y., played for the Bulls the past two seasons, appearing in 44 games and making one start. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.  

This past season, the 6-foot-5 guard played in 32 games and averaged 4.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest while shooting 38.6 percent from the floor and 34.4 percent from three-point range. He had a season-high 11 points in just 18 minutes at UConn this past season for his lone double-digit outing of the season. He also had an 11-point scoring game as a freshman against St. John Fisher, doing so in just nine minutes on the floor. 

Blocker starred at Tennessee Prep Academy in Memphis for his final two high school seasons, including averaging 26.6 points during a 12-game span his final year. He tallied 30-or-more five times during that stretch, including a 36-point effort against Dream City Christian (Ariz.). 

"We're excited to be adding Kidtrell to the program," head coach Matt Crenshaw said. "He's a good kid who just wants to come in, play a role within our team and help us win. He's a great addition to our program. We like a lot about his game and how he'll fit in with the guys we have coming back. He brings really good size, length and athleticism to the backcourt and we think with his size and athleticism, he'll be able to guard a number of different positions. He can come in and be a lockdown defender in this league and really make life tough on some of the other guards we're going to face. 

"Offensively, he can knock down shots and create for himself off the dribble. He's a crafty scorer and has the vision to get his teammates involved as well. I think our fans are going to really like him."

Blocker joins a strong returning nucleus as Crenshaw's team is expected to return all-league guard Jlynn Counter (14.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.3 apg) and #HLMBB All-Freshman Team honorees Vincent Brady II (10.9 ppg, 58 3's) and DJ Jackson (9.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg). The Jags are expecting a lift from Bryce Monroe (12.0 ppg, 3.8 apg in 4 games), who missed virtually all of last season due to injury. Other key returners will include Daylan Hamilton (6.4 ppg), John Egbuta (6.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg), Armon Jarrard (5.3 ppg, 19 3's), Amhad Jarrard (4.5 ppg) and Cooper Dewitt (1.2 ppg).