Kendall Blue Credit: Courtesy of X

Junior guard Kendall Blue played and started in all 33 games for St. Thomas last season. This season the 6โ€™6โ€ player is co-featured on the schoolโ€™s 2024-25 season schedule with Drake Dobbs.

Asked after a workout if heโ€™s ready to take on a more starring role, Blue responded, โ€œIโ€™m just trying to work on my leadership and just being a veteran on the team, making sure all the guys are straight and just do everything we can do to get a W every night.โ€ He is the top player on the opponentsโ€™ scouting report this season.

Tommies Coach Johnny Tauer said of the Woodbury native, โ€œThe biggest thing I appreciate about Kendall is his ability to play with about any combination of players. He certainly can be a prolific scorer, but he doesnโ€™t take that many shots.  I think [his] passing is his best quality.

โ€œHeโ€™s a steady force on the court,โ€ added his coach.

His first two collegiate seasons Blue basically deferred to older players, but now he has nearly 70 games of collegiate experience under his belt. Blue was the only Tommie on the preseason All-Summit League first team.

โ€œThe pace of the game is a lot faster making the transition from high school to college,โ€ he admitted.”

โ€œIโ€™ve just gotten a lot of experience over the years. Iโ€™m grateful for the opportunity I have.”

Kendall Blue

โ€œItโ€™s like evolving my game better, better habits, and just being mentally prepared for every night and just trying to do the best I can,โ€ Blue said. 

Tauer said, โ€œWhat we are looking for this year is for him to be more assertiveโ€ฆand be more of a vocal leader, a natural progression from his sophomore to junior year.โ€

UST menโ€™s basketball is ready for its season opener in a couple of weeks, and Blue said he canโ€™t wait: โ€œIโ€™m feeling confident.โ€ 

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.