photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence freshman guard Axl Bland dribbles the ball in a win over Kansas City East at Lawrence High School on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Lawrence.

Axl and Landon Bland moved to Lawrence in October, just a month before the start of the boys basketball season, leaving the two without much time to get acclimated.

It’s been a challenge to learn the players on the team and to learn the system and the actions. Luckily, the two have each other and their dad, Tony Bland, who joined the Kansas men’s basketball coaching staff in August.

Basketball is part of the Bland family business. Even though Axl, a freshman, and Landon, a senior, didn’t start playing basketball until middle school, the two grew up training with their dad.

“It helps a lot — he’s pretty much a pro when it comes to basketball,” Landon said. “He knows everything about basketball, so it’s good having him there, just to learn from him.”

Tony would always have basketball games on the TV when the Bland boys were growing up, but neither started playing organized basketball until middle school. Landon started when he was in eighth grade, and Axl started as a seventh grader.

Even in a short time, the two Bland boys have become instant contributors for the Lions, in part due to the development the boys had growing up. Axl said that his time around his dad has helped him see the court better, which in turn has made him a better passer.

So far in the Lawrence boys basketball season, the Bland brothers have quickly cashed in on that experience with their dad. Axl is a starter for the Lions, and Landon is one of the first players off the bench.

In Lawrence, the Blands are living in basketball history. The boys go to school down the road from Allen Fieldhouse, where Tony now works. For a family deeply entrenched in the sport, a town like Lawrence is special.

“It seems like everybody here really cares about basketball,” Landon said. “It’s been fun playing here.”

“All my friends now love to go to the park and hoop,” Axl added. “Especially at KU, it’s electric in there.”

The two have spent a lot of time the past few months around KU and the basketball program. Between games at Allen Fieldhouse and visiting the team’s practice facilities, the Blands have enjoyed getting to see everything up close.

What the two could live without when it comes to living in Lawrence is the weather. After having grown up in California, it’s been quite the change of scenery to experience Midwestern cold weather. Axl admits the two underestimated it a bit when moving, and Landon agrees with the sentiment.

“I’ve never been this cold in my life,” Landon said. “This was my first time seeing snow ever.”

Not only are the brothers getting to play a mile away from the birthplace of basketball, the two are doing it together for the first time.

“I’ve been waiting for this since I started playing,” Landon said. “We’ve never played a full season together, so this is going to be fun.”

Since the Blands moved out to Lawrence in October, the rest of the team has had a lot more time learning the plays and the system. But that hasn’t stopped both Blands from contributing early on.

The brothers have belief and confidence in each others’ skills, but that doesn’t stop them from acting like siblings. If Landon thinks Axl is getting a big head, he has to remind him that Axl is still the little brother. Axl makes sure that even though he’s young, he’s got the talent to show up Landon from time to time.

There’s always time to compete like brothers, but at the end of the day, the two have each other’s back.

“I know what my brother is capable of, and I know what I’m capable of,” Axl said.

The Blands have work to do in Lawrence. Landon is hoping to get his name out there and earn more college offers. Axl wants to win and to grow as a basketball player to be someone who helps a team win.

But what makes these goals special is that they get to work on them together. It’s been their dream to play basketball on the same team, and at Lawrence, they finally get to.

“We can sit back and talk about this one day, how good we were on the same team,” Landon said. “It’s just really fun playing together.”

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior Landon Bland jumps for a layup in a win over Kansas City East at Lawrence High School on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Lawrence.

Assistant coach Tony Bland gives some direction to Kansas forward Samis Calderon (6) during warmups before tipoff on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025 at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo by Nick Krug