Bluegrass native Tay Kinney will announce his college decision later this month.
According to On3’s Joe Tipton, Kinney is set to inform everyone of his choice on Sunday, September 28. The 6-foot-2 point guard will choose from a list of eight finalists: Kentucky, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Louisville, Miami (FL), Oregon, and Texas. Kinney, who is originally from Newport, KY, but now plays for Overtime Elite in Atlanta, is considered a four-star talent and the No. 15 overall prospect from the 2026 cycle.
Kinney has already taken official visits to UK, Indiana, Kansas, Louisville, and Oregon. He recently canceled upcoming visits with Texas and Miami, but, according to Tipton, could still sneak in a trip to Arkansas before his decision date.
Kentucky head coach Mark Pope has kept Kinney on his radar over the last few months, despite reports indicating that the Wildcats might be fading in this recruitment. Pope, along with Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey, was at Kinney’s doorstep the moment the recruiting period opened at midnight on Sept. 3. Kelsey and the Cardinals were long viewed as the favorite to land the in-state guard, but Tipton reports the tides have shifted toward another adidas school.
Not long after Kinney’s decision date was revealed, Tipton logged an RPM pick in favor of Kinney landing with the Kansas Jayhawks. Kinney officially visited Kansas the weekend of August 22, and that trip to Lawrence has apparently stuck with him ever since. Head coach Bill Self appears to be in the driver’s seat less than three weeks out from a commitment.
We’ll find out for sure soon enough.