Kansas received off to a blockbuster begin with its 2026 recruiting class on Sunday, when five-star level guard Taylen Kinney dedicated to the Jayhawks reside on CBS Sports activities HQ. Kinney is taken into account a five-star prospect and is ranked the No. 1 level guard within the class, in response to 247Sports.
The Newport, Kentucky native is taking part in with the Additional time Elite developmental program in Atlanta, the place he averaged 20.1 factors and 5 assists per sport final season. He additionally thought-about Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville and Oregon.
In a slow-moving recruiting cycle, Kinney is a crucial early domino. Of the 15 gamers with a five-star prospect grade within the 247Sports rankings, he’s simply the third to announce a school dedication. Kinney may even set the tone for the Jayhawks’ class as he’s KU’s first pledge of the cycle.
The 6-foot-1 playmaker has demonstrated pure scoring capacity throughout his time on the grassroots and highschool circuits, however he is not missing as a passer. He averaged 20.1 factors and 5 assists per sport final season for the Additional time Elite developmental program in Atlanta. 247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein referred to Kinney as a “playmaking lead guard who’s easy and versatile along with his assault.”
“He is nice in drive-and-kick actions, could make pick-and-roll reads, and understands tips on how to feed the submit,” Finkelstein wrote. “He additionally has a reasonably good really feel, even whereas in assault mode, of tips on how to make the most of his versatility to make performs with out pounding the ball or settling unnecessarily.”
By touchdown Kinney, Kansas is placing the early framework collectively for a backcourt overhaul in 2026-27. Whereas ballyhooed freshman Darryn Peterson is ready to guide Kansas’ offensive assault this season, he’s thought to be a near-lock to be a one-and-done departure for the 2026 NBA Draft.
Switch additions Melvin Council Jr. and Jayden Dawson are additionally utilizing their closing season of eligibility in 2025-26, which implies KU’s guard rotation will doubtless look a lot completely different in 2026-27. Kinney may very well be a major consider that equation.