Louisville basketball has been trending in the right direction for multiple 2026 recruits, but a name that keeps coming back is Taylen Kinney. The 5-star recruit is ranked as high as the No. 14 recruit in the 2026 cycle and is a consensus top-five point guard in the class. He is ranked as the second-best player from Georgia and possesses the skills and potential to take over the Cardinals' program once Mikel Brown Jr. declares for the NBA Draft.
The Cardinals are entering just their second year under head coach Pat Kelsey, and something that is already being made clear is his ability to recruit at a high level. Kinney is a Kentucky native, as he grew up in the state, making him one of Louisville's top targets.
Joe Tipton of On3 Sports confirmed yesterday that the 5-star recruit will make his official visit with Louisville, arriving on campus today and staying until tomorrow.
Related: Louisville basketball trending with 5-star 2026 point guard
Louisville basketball in prime position to jump Kentucky for elite in-state 5-star PG
Kinney has been trending with Louisville for a few weeks now, as it was rumored he visited the Cardinals a couple of weeks ago. However, after Tipton confirmed this, it is another massive update on the right path.
The 5-star recruit has just recently signed with Adidas, raising eyebrows among Louisville basketball fans, as it would be fitting for the new Adidas athlete to sign with one of the best Adidas programs. Obviously, just because he signed with Adidas doesn't mean he has to commit to an Adidas school; however, signing with Adidas and visiting Louisville all within a week is excellent news for the Cardinals.
Louisville is given the second-best percentage to land Kinney according to On3 Sports' forecast, with a 22.6 percent chance, while Kentucky is given a 25.8 percent chance. Kentucky and Louisville are expected to battle it out for this elite player as Kinney is from Newport, Ky. On3 Sports ranks the Kentucky native as the third-best point guard in the 2026 cycle after his impressive 2024 season.
Kinney played for RWE and averaged 20.1 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the 3-point line. He was also a key player for the Wildcat Select in the Adidas 3SSB, averaging 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game.
This is massive news for the Cardinals, as they hope to continue trending with this elite 5-star point guard. Kinney fits Kelsey's play style, and these next couple of days are crucial for the future of the Louisville basketball program.
The Cardinals have yet to receive any commitments in the 2026 cycle, and they hope Kinney can be that first domino to fall their way. The 5-star point guard has over 25 offers, and Louisville is hoping they can land this elite Kentucky native over their in-state rival and make a statement for the future of college basketball.
Kinney signing with Adidas and visiting the Cardinals in the same week appears to be excellent news for the Cardinals, as Kentucky has yet to earn an official visit from the 5-star.
Related: Game-changing 5-star PG breaks down his Louisville basketball visit and more
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.