Former Newport High School basketball standout Taylen Kinney is back home after a busy summer playing basketball all over the country on the AAU circuit.
Kinney is hosting a two-day basketball camp that started on Thursday called “Tay Kinney Basketball ProCamp” at Town and Country Sports Complex in Wilder. Kinney and a staff of coaches offer tips and hands-on instruction, including lectures, fundamental basketball skills stations, contests, and non-contact games in a high-energy, fun and positive environment.
Campers also received a souvenir autograph from Kinney, a camp team photo and a limited edition Tay Kinney Basketball ProCamp t-shirt.
“It’s a great experience. This is a blessing,” Kinney said. “You see all these kids really support me.”
It’s been nearly a year when Kinney
made the decision
to take his game nationally and head to Overtime Elite in Atlanta. Kinney, a rising junior at the time, was already starting to make a name for himself with his play. Fast forward a year and the rising senior Kinney is now a prized five-star recruit with an offer from nearly any Power 4 Conference school in the country.
A weekly roundup of NKY sports headlines right to you every Monday at noon.
“From the development standpoint to social media to the connections, it’s been great,” Kinney said.
Since Kinney has gone prep, two more members of the Newport basketball team have taken the same route this summer, James Turner and Griffin Starks also deciding to take their development elsewhere, Turner with AZ Compass in Arizona, Starks with Southeastern Prep in Florida. That makes three prep school and two current college basketball players (Deshaun Jackson at Mercyhurst, Jabari Covington at Union) from Newport’s starting five 2023-24 team that went 32-4, won 24 games in a row and claimed a 9th Region championship and All “A” state title.
“It’s crazy that full team we had that year,” Kinney said. “Me, Bari (Covington), DJ (Jackson), James (Turner), Griff (Starks), Amontae (Lowe), Beans (Dashawn Anderson), Noah (Silverton). We had a great team. It’s crazy to see how far everybody went from there.”
The Wildcats momentum that season was halted by Kinney’s injury in the region championship to Cooper, a game in which they prevailed but couldn’t overcome it in the first round of the state tournament to fellow county mate Campbell County.
“We were winning the state championship,” Kinney said if he hadn’t got hurt. “Without a doubt.”
It’s definitely a what if moment, but looking forward Kinney’s stock continues to rise as he’s a top 20 recruit by multiple recruiting sites and recently
released his final 12 schools
on where he’ll attend college in 2026. The list includes Kentucky, Louisville, Auburn, Texas, Arkansas, Xavier, Kansas, Purdue, Oregon, Tennessee, Miami and Indiana.
“I’ll be making my decision right before the season starts,” Kinney said. “Starting at the end of August I’ll be taking the rest of my visits every weekend.”
He’ll head back to OTE for his senior season in the middle to late August.
Not only his game, but his brand has grown, highlighted by NIL deals from Adidas and “67”. Basketball is taking him places he never imagined.
“I never thought it would take me this far,” Kinney said. “I always dreamed about being a high-profile, one of the top players in the country and I’m finally here. Such a blessing.”
But Thursday and Friday was a chance for Kinney to give back to the Northern Kentucky community that filled high school gyms to come see him play. He was interacting with the kids that came out to the camp of 180 kids that was offered for free.
“A lot of kids were on the wait list that wasn’t able to get here. So, you know, hopefully next year we can have all the little kids out here,” Kinney said.
Kinney is finishing out his summer with a couple more trips. He’ll be at a basketball camp in California and is competing in the Strictly High School Three-on-Three Nationals in Hopkins Royals Athletic Center, Minnesota, starting on August 9.
Liked this story? Help make the next one possible.
Independent local news doesn’t happen without community support. Your monthly donation helps us keep covering the people, issues, and places that make Northern Kentucky what it is.
When you give, you’re not just supporting one story — you’re investing in all the ones still to come.
SUPPORT LOCAL NEWS
