NC State Basketball Enters Fray for Five-Star UNC Recruit

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NC State basketball head coach Will Wade and his cohorts are officially in the mix for Overtime Elite (Ga.) rising senior Taylen Kinney, a five-star point guard who has been on the wishlist of the Wolfpack's top ACC rival, the UNC Tar Heels, since late February.
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The 6-foot-1, 185-pound talent formally announced his NC State basketball offer via the following social media post earlier this week:
Kinney, who hails from Kentucky but transferred to Overtime Elite last year, currently stacks up at No. 14 overall on the 247Sports 2026 Composite. He ranks No. 1 at his position and No. 1 among all Georgia prospects in the class.
Now boasting well over two dozen offers as a coveted 2026 prospect, Taylen Kinney has seen his recruitment slate heat up considerably in the past few weeks.
He is set to begin an official visit with the blueblood Kentucky Wildcats on Tuesday, and he recently toured another program from his home state in the ACC's Louisville Cardinals.
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Stay tuned to NC State Wolfpack On SI for more NC State basketball recruiting news.

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of NC State Wolfpack on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining NC State Wolfpack on SI in 2024, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.
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