Day one of the Under Armour Next Elite 24 event concluded on Thursday, with a stellar lineup of top high school and international athletes competing in practice matches and vying to prove themselves at the highest level of competition.
While stiff competition is expected at guard level, one player who stood out early on was four-star recruit Taylen Kinney, who is currently ranked No. 1 in the state of Kentucky and a top-five point guard in the 2026 class.
At 6-foot-2 and 160 pounds, Kinney was one of the smaller players on the court, but the guard made up for it with tenacity, which was evident right from the start of the game.
The four-star player showed off his defensive instincts in a 3-on-2 drill, running up and down the backline to disrupt passing lanes and even made an impressive recovery block in the second half.
But overall, the guards looked tenacious as they tried to keep constant pressure on the ball to confuse opponents.
As a sophomore at Newport High School last season, Kinney averaged 17.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, helping the team win its second consecutive District 9 championship.
So, at an event attended by many NBA scouts, Kinney looked to showcase the two-way skills and motor that set him apart from other players on Thursday.
The guard credited those efforts to his high school coach, whose number one motto was hard defense.
“All Coach preaches is hard defense. Hard defense,” Kinney said. “Limit the defender from scoring as much as possible.” [I wanted to prove myself] Just coming out here and competing with the best guys and showing all the NBA scouts that I can play on both sides of the ball, not just on one side.”
With the increased competition, Kinney is looking to focus on making the right plays this weekend while also showcasing more of his off-ball skills.
“[I’m looking to prove that] “I’m just a good player, I can make the right plays, I don’t have to score every time, I don’t have to have the ball in my hands every time,” Kinney said.
But that motor is an essential part of the game for the four-star recruit, who prides himself on being an undersized guard and maintains a humble yet cantankerous demeanor.
“I agree, [have a chip on your shoulder]”I don’t like being bullied by anybody,” Kinney said of his size.
Kinney, who weighs 160 pounds, plans to focus on improving his strength next year, as well as his dribbling and long-range shooting ability.
“My strength and speed off ball screens are definitely [are areas I’m looking to improve]. and [working] Shoot deeper off the dribble.”
The 2026 guard’s recruitment is still in the early stages, but his fit with his next program will be Kinney’s No. 1 factor.
“It’s just the right fit,” Kinney said of his ideal school. “I want to have a good relationship with the coaches. I want to go somewhere that feels like home and is the right fit for me.”
So far, the third-year student has already received more than a dozen scholarship offers from the likes of Tennessee, Indiana, Louisville and Texas A&M.
Additionally, he received offers from schools including Oregon, Louisiana State and Villanova after performing well at the Adidas 3SSB Championships earlier this summer.
If Kentucky ends up offering the No. 1 recruit in the state, it could set up a tight competition between multiple teams for the four-star player.
But for now, Kinney is looking to make the most of the opportunity presented to him.
He’s already won the adidas 3SSB Championship and now has his sights set on the Under Armour Elite 24 this weekend.
