Tay Kinney’s decision looms: Kentucky visit could be a massive turning point
The ball’s in his court—literally and figuratively. Tay Kinney, the slick-scoring, smooth-handling guard out of Newport (KY), is hitting the homestretch of his recruitment, and this week, he’ll be in Lexington for what could be the most pivotal visit of his process.
For Kentucky, this isn’t just about securing a top in-state talent. It’s about keeping the next great Bluegrass guard from slipping across enemy lines—and the stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Crafty, confident, and climbing
Kinney’s a three-level scorer with a polished handle and the confidence to match. He plays with a veteran’s pace and has that subtle control you can’t teach. Whether it’s creating separation off the bounce or finding angles in the lane, he’s a natural with the ball in his hands—and that’s exactly where he wants it.
“It’s going to be where I’m most comfortable,” Kinney told KSR. “It’s where I feel I can go in there and they put the ball in my hands as a freshman and I’m able to go out and perform my best to get to the next level.”
That’s not just a quote—it’s the blueprint. Whoever lands Kinney is getting a player who’s ready to contribute early, and he knows it. That message should resonate in Lexington, where guards go to the NBA and dominate, see SGA.
But that will also be a little rough to some. He clearly prioritizes getting the NBA bag, and that's fine. Fans though want to hear that championship talk, not the NBA as the top priority. However, these are kids and that is their dream.
The race: Kentucky, Louisville, and the usual suspects
Make no mistake—this is shaping up to be a classic border war.
“We got a great relationship, a great relationship,” Kinney said of Louisville. “Louisville fans are definitely pulling for me. I don’t know about Kentucky fans—they said a couple things that are crazy. But they’re definitely pulling for me, some of them.”
That’s classic recruiting tension in the Commonwealth. But the fact that Kinney’s even joking about it means he knows what this means to the state—and what it would mean if he picked one over the other.
Louisville’s already added Mikel Brown Jr., and they’d love nothing more than to lock up the state’s two best guards in one cycle. Meanwhile, Kentucky already has five-star Jasper Johnson on board for this season, and adding Kinney to that mix next year would solidify Pope's recruiting standing.
But this isn’t a two-horse race. Kinney visited Purdue in January and Louisville in June. He’ll head to Oregon in September and is expected to schedule visits with Arkansas, Indiana, and Texas. That’s big-boy company, and it speaks to just how wide his appeal has grown.
Still, there’s an unmistakable feel that this decision comes down to comfort—and Kentucky, for all its expectations and intensity, offers a homegrown opportunity that’s hard to match.
The timeline: Sooner rather than later
Kinney has said that he wants to commit before his senior season suggesting a decision could come within the next few months. That makes this week’s visit to Lexington even more important. It’s not just a chance to sit in the gym or tour the locker room—it’s Kentucky’s opportunity to show him he belongs there, now.
With Pope and his staff working hard to reestablish roots with in-state talent, landing Kinney would send a message: the Commonwealth’s best will always have a place in Lexington, and they don’t need to leave to reach the league.
The stakes: Beyond the rankings
This isn’t just about ratings or roster spots. It’s about identity. It’s about keeping a Kentucky kid in Kentucky colors. And with the Cats recalibrating under a new coaching staff and a new recruiting philosophy, securing Tay Kinney wouldn’t just check a box—it would plant a flag.
Will Kinney follow Jasper Johnson to Kentucky and give Pope another in-state star? Or will he take the Mikel Brown Jr. route and head down I-64 to Louisville? Or maybe Oregon, Texas, or another contender swoops in with a pitch too good to ignore?
That’s what this visit will help decide.
For now, BBN waits.