News Summary

Taylen Kinney, a five-star point guard and the top player in the 2026 recruiting class, has committed to the Kansas Jayhawks, stirring excitement among fans. The announcement, made during a ceremony at Newport High School, highlights Kinney’s impressive stats and potential as a future star. With a robust basketball background that includes back-to-back region championships and over 30 scholarship offers, Kinney’s commitment promises a bright future for Kansas basketball. His efforts to recruit other top prospects further amplify what may be a transformative season for the Jayhawks.

Excitement Builds in Lawrence as Taylen Kinney Picks Kansas Jayhawks for 2026

Lawrence, Kansas – Fans of the Kansas Jayhawks are buzzing with excitement after the announcement that Taylen Kinney, a highly-touted five-star point guard and the top-ranked player in the 2026 recruiting class, has officially committed to the University of Kansas. This big news was revealed during an impressive ceremony at Newport High School, showcasing Kinney’s athletic talent and potential as a future star.

The Road to Kansas

Standing at an impressive 6-foot-3, Kinney has rapidly ascended through the rankings, currently sitting as the No. 17 overall player in the 2026 class, as confirmed by 247Sports. Prior to making his final decision, Kinney had narrowed down his choices to an elite group of six teams, including Kansas, Louisville, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, and Oregon.

His performance on the court has certainly caught the attention of college basketball fans everywhere. Kinney led Newport High School to back-to-back 9th Region boys basketball championships in 2023 and 2024, proving his mettle as a fierce competitor. Following his high school success, he took his game to the next level by joining Overtime Elite in Atlanta, where young athletes from ages 16 to 20 compete while continuing their education.

Impressive Stats and Highlights

Last season, Kinney’s stats were jaw-dropping, as he averaged an impressive 20.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in the Overtime Elite circuit. He showcased his scoring ability with a remarkable 65% shooting percentage inside the arc, alongside a solid 33.3% from beyond the three-point line. In addition to this, Kinney participated in the prestigious Adidas 3SSB circuit, where he averaged 18.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists for Wildcat Select.

His basketball journey has also seen him attend major events like the Adidas Eurocamp in Italy and the USA Basketball under-17 tryouts. Despite being just a sophomore, Kinney has received over 30 scholarship offers from NCAA Division I programs.

A Bright Future at Kansas

During his sophomore year at Newport, Kinney showed tremendous potential, averaging 17.5 points and four rebounds for the Wildcats, who boasted an impressive 32-4 record. His freshman year was also notable, as he averaged 13.9 points and 3.9 rebounds while helping Newport clinch its first 9th Region title since 2010.

Kinney’s commitment marks a significant milestone for Kansas as it is the first for the 2026 class, following the acquisition of five-star recruit Darryn Peterson for the class of 2025. His recruitment was heavily influenced by the strong relationships he formed with head coach Bill Self and assistant coach Jacque Vaughn. Kinney expressed admiration for Self’s ability to develop players into professional athletes, indicating confidence in his choice to join the Jayhawks.

Reaching Out to Potential Teammates

As a show of his commitment to the team, Kinney has already started to actively recruit other top prospects to join him at Kansas. This includes players like Tyran Stokes and potential commitments such as Davion Adkins. With Kinney set to take control of the team’s offense from day one, the future is looking exceedingly bright for the Jayhawks as they gear up for the 2026 season.

With the Kansas fans already recognizing him during his visit, the energy around Kinney’s upcoming journey is sure to elevate excitement within the local basketball community. His story is just getting started, and there’s no telling just how far this young star will go.

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