Kansas struck gold Sunday when Taylen Kinney, the No. 1 point guard in the 2026 class, pledged live on CBS Sports HQ. Kinney, rated a five-star prospect by 247Sports, becomes the headline addition to the Jayhawks’ recruiting haul.
His decision followed a tense chase involving Kentucky’s Mark Pope and Louisville’s Pat Kelsey, both of whom pursued him at the first allowable moment on the recruiting calendar. With Kinney now bound for Lawrence, fans wasted little time roasting Pope and Kelsey for missing out.
Pat Kelsey and Mark Pope Mocked After Losing Tay Kinney to Kansas
Taylen Kinney, a 6-foot-3 guard from Newport, Kentucky, put an end to a heated recruiting battle Sunday by committing to Kansas during a live broadcast on CBS Sports HQ. Kinney, regarded as the No. 1 point guard in the 2026 class and ranked No. 13 overall by 247Sports, had his pick of powerhouse programs but chose the Jayhawks after weighing Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville and Oregon.
The decision came as a blow to Kentucky coach Mark Pope and Louisville coach Pat Kelsey, who had been in pursuit of Kinney since the start of the recruiting window. Fans quickly piled on after the announcement.
One wrote, “Louisville swore they were getting Tay Kinney lmao.”
Louisville swore they were getting Tay Kinney lmaoo
— fluflammer (@dontcrapout) September 28, 2025
Another jabbed Kentucky with, “KENTUCKY WHAT HAPPENED.”
KENTUCKY WHAT HAPPENED
— will (@frwill_) September 28, 2025
“MARK POPE WHIFF,” another remarked.
MARK POPE WHIFF
— National Champion Tony Vitellos Smile 🏆 (@bigorangetony) September 28, 2025
“Adidas gave Pat Kelsey the easiest recruitment in the history of organized basketball and he got little-brothered by an actual blue blood program lmao,” another fan weighed in.
Adidas gave Pat Kelsey the easiest recruitment in the history of organized basketball and he got little-brothered by an actual blue blood program lmao
— WT – MOTIVATED (@WildcatsTongue) September 28, 2025
“Tay Kinney , the Louisville lock , committed to Kansas. The Pat Kelsey whiff season begins,” a fan quipped
Tay Kinney , the Louisville lock , committed to Kansas. The Pat Kelsey whiff season begins. #L1C4
— Emmett Smith (@iamemmettsmith) September 28, 2025
Kinney’s resume is already loaded. After leaving traditional high school basketball, he joined the Overtime Elite program in Atlanta, where he averaged 20.1 points, five assists, four rebounds and 2.3 steals over 20 games last season.
Rivals rated him as a four-star prospect and the No. 15 overall player in the nation. He also earned a spot at USA Basketball’s 2025 Under-19 national team training camp.
When asked why Kansas won out, Kinney pointed to the environment and staff.
“It felt like family from the time I got there until I left,” Kinney said.
He also credited conversations with current Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson, a projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick.
“DP told me to come and hoop 10 months and then get to the league,” Kinney told The Star. “I mean, that’s what he’s going to do.”
Kinney praised Bill Self’s track record in developing guards, saying, “Bill Self is a great coach, he’s got a great coaching staff, Jacque Vaughn played in the league. The skill development at guard would be top-level. I mean, it’s Kansas, a legendary program.”
Kansas has an immediate need for future backcourt depth. Peterson is widely expected to leave for the NBA after his freshman year, and transfers Melvin Council Jr. and Jayden Dawson will be playing their final seasons in 2025-26.
By securing Kinney, Self has positioned the Jayhawks to rebuild around one of the top guard prospects in the country, with fans already buzzing about how he could anchor their rotation by 2026-27.
