Kentucky’s No. 1 recruit Taylen Kinney poses with Pat Kelsey on his official visit to Louisville

Taylen Kinney is the No. 1 prospect in Kentucky, and his recruitment continues to make headlines. On Thursday and Friday, he made an official visit to Louisville, one of the programs actively recruiting him.

The Cardinals made Kinney one of their top priorities in the 2026 class, with Pat Kelsey and his staff tracking him closely over the past year. They have kept tabs on him at stops including the Overtime Elite program, 3SSB All-American Camp and KABC Titans Shootout.

The coveted point guard posed for a photo alongside Kelsey, and the moment made its way to social media.

Kinney has been one of the most sought-after prospects across the country. He is No. 16 prospect and the No. 4 point guard in his class, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Kinney had a dominant 2024-25 season with Rod Wave Elite in the Overtime Elite league, putting up 20.1 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. He shot 55.6%, including 33.3% from 3-point range, establishing himself as one of the league’s top performers.

On the Adidas 3SSB circuit, he continued to impress, averaging 20.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 4.3 apg with Wildcat Select.

Louisville already extended offers to 23 uncommitted players in the Class of 2026, preparing way ahead of schedule.

The program secured three commitments in the 2025 class: four-star forwards Mouhamed Camara and Sananda Fru, and five-star guard Mikel Brown Jr.

UNC also in contention for Taylen Kinney's commitment

Louisville may have been the first program to secure a visit from Taylen Kinney, but there are other schools also trying to have him over.

Another ACC program, UNC, is a strong contender for the guard’s commitment. Kinney mentioned the Tar Heels as a possible destination after receiving an offer from the school in February.

Hubert Davis' team has also started its work in the 2026 class, laying the groundwork on over 10 targets who are mostly five-star prospects.