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UNC Basketball Among Contenders for Five-Star Point Guard

The UNC basketball staff has been in pursuit of Taylen Kinney for almost two months.
Matt Giles|
UNC basketball recruiting target Taylen Kinney
UNC basketball recruiting target Taylen Kinney | Brendan Connelly/ The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

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North Carolina Tar Heels

UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis and his staff entered the Taylen Kinney sweepstakes back in late February. Now, the Tar Heels are among the programs that the heralded Overtime Elite (Ga.) point guard is currently considering in what figures to be a high-profile 2026 recruitment.

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According to a report from League Ready's Sam Kayser this week, the other contenders for the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Kinney are Purdue, Kentucky, Louisville, Arkansas, Kansas, Oregon, Texas, Xavier, Tennessee, and Cincinnati.

Kentucky head coach Mark Pope and two of his assistants completed an in-home visit with the high school junior on Wednesday.

Kinney is a five-star prospect and explosive playmaker stacking up at No. 17 overall, No. 4 among point guards, and No. 2 in Georgia on the 247Sports 2026 Composite. He already boasts well over two dozen offers.

As things stand, UNC basketball has offers out to almost a dozen 2026 prospects. Davis and his cohorts haven't landed their first commitment in the cycle, but they also haven't really faced much rejection from their targets at this relatively early juncture.

Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI for more UNC basketball recruiting news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, 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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