Tag: Tay Kinney

Kentucky basketball offers the top in-state recruit in 2026

Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope has offered 2026 point guard Tay Kinney.

Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope has made it clear that he is prioritizing keeping the top recruits in the Bluegrass State at home. He did it with Travis Perry and Trent Noah this year, and has a commitment from Malachi Moreno in 2025. Now, he’s targeting the top player in 2026 in Tay Kinney.

Kinney is a 6’2″, 160 lb point guard out of Newport, Kentucky, and a member of the 2026 recruiting class. He is ranked currently as the number 26 overall player in the class by 247sports and rated four stars. He’s their fifth ranked point guard.

Related: Jasper Johnson to make decision soon

On Wednesday, he was in Lexington on an unofficial visit, when he received a scholarship offer from the Wildcats. He previously told Kentucky Sports Radio that an offer from Kentucky would be meaningful.

That’s always been an offer I’ve wanted. Kentucky is the school in Kentucky. You get that offer, you’re the guy in Kentucky.

Kinney also has offers from SEC schools Texas, Tennessee, and Texas A&M, as well as Notre Dame and Indiana. Fans will want to watch this one, as Pope tries to keep him at home.

Watch this! Rutgers basketball recruit Tay Kinney is a highlight reel on the court

Tay Kinney is a special athlete.

Tay Kinney is nothing short of being explosive. The Rutgers basketball recruit, one of the top players in the nation in the class of 2026, has a unique blend of athleticism and a refined skill set.

Rutgers offered Kinney at the end of April. The 6-foot guard from Newport High School (Newport, Kentucky) has a strong offer list that includes Cincinnati, Dayton, Illinois, Louisville, Notre Dame, Purdue and Texas A&M among others.

He is a four-star and ranked the No. 30 recruit in the nation by ESPN, where he is also the fifth-best point guard in the nation. He is also ranked as a four-star by Rivals and 247Sports.

Kinney has the ability to get to the rim, almost with ease. He is a glider in his movement and then can explode upwards vertically.

This, coupled with a good handle and some very nice range, makes him a complete guard.

Check out a couple of these highlights as Kinney is a name to watch:

 

 

Rutgers put together a strong class of 2024 that included five-star forward [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] (the No. 1 recruit in the nation according to USA TODAY High School Sports) and five-star guard [autotag]Dylan Harper[/autotag].

[lawrence-related id=38368,38359,38335]

The class was ranked top-10 in the nation and No. 4 in the 247Sports Composite.