Locked On Jayhawks - Daily Podcast On Kansas Jayhawks Football & Basketball - Can Taylen Kinney PRODUCE as a FRESHMAN Starter? Kansas Jayhawks Player Scouting Report

Episode Date: June 24, 2026

Kansas Jayhawks basketball fans are buzzing as true freshman guard Taylen Kinney steps into the spotlight—can he live up to the hype and anchor Bill Self’s offense? Kinney’s impressive five-star pedigree, playmaking skills, and dynamic shooting could instantly reshape KU’s backcourt, but questions remain about his size and ability to adjust to the college game. Host Derek Johnson breaks down Kinney’s strengths, statistical upside, and potential pitfalls, comparing him to Jayhawk greats and forecasting his role alongside Leroy Blyden, Tyran Stokes, and Keanu Dawes. Get insights into the Jayhawks’ backcourt rotation, key floor and ceiling scenarios for Kinney, and the broader impact of the new NCAA “5 and 5” eligibility rule. The episode also covers KU baseball’s top-12 postseason ranking and updates on the Jayhawks JHX TBT roster, including Marcus Garrett’s defensive prowess. Will Kinney become KU’s next freshman sensation or take time to develop? Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The spotlight will be thrust upon Taylin Kinney as a true freshman, and he's going to have a big hand in just how well this season goes for KU. You are locked on Jayhawks, your daily podcast on the Kansas Jayhawks, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. What's going on Derek Johnson here, and on today's episode of the show, we're going to get to some of the latest news. We'll get to Taylin Kinney's possible outcomes this season, what it would mean for KU,

And we'll start right here kicking off our player preview series with Talen Kenny, the incoming freshman guard. He is a six foot one guard. I think some sites at one point had him listed like six three. I think officially he's coming in around six one. But he does have like a six six wing span according to 24 seven sports. So is able to play up a little bit in that way. And I think you see that a little bit with his activity getting steals on the defensive end of the floor. He is a five-star recruit over at 24-7 sports.

comes in number 19 on the 24-7 sports rankings and number 21 on the 24-7 composite rankings. So top 25 recruit based on where you're kind of looking there. And he played three seasons of high school basketball in his area at I think it was Newport High School in Kentucky. And then he goes to OTE for two years. So basically had a prep year as part of it. So with the new five and five stuff passing, I don't think it'll have an impact. I think regardless, he'll be a first-year player out of five years.

And who knows, maybe as a smaller guard, you can get extra years out of that, and it'll make this even more beneficial edition for KU. But over his two years at OTE put up really impressive and incredible stats, you're talking between the two years he played there, including the preseason games, the regular season games, and the postseason games. You're talking over 20 points per game, 20.2 points per game, 5.2 assists per game compared to 2.4 terms. turnovers per game. So over two to one assist to turnover ratio is at least solid. Over four

rebounds per game. Good to see there. One point seven steals per game. And if you add in the blocks over two stocks per game. He also shot 50% from the floor, 36% from three and 79% at the foul line. Very efficient player. Really good numbers there. Just giving you a little bit of everything, right? He also played for the Fiba U18 America, USA team where you average about seven and a half points, 3.8 assists per game. He started all five games. That shows you what, you know, the staffs thought of him. Obviously, got the silver medal there losing a close game to Canada in the finals. And this is a player who comes in. Obviously, he's, you know, got a lot of popularity from inventing the 6-7 stuff and then the 6-7 water. And is somebody who seems to be a very

gregarious and sociable person and seems to be somebody that you would like us. I think, you know, I don't mean to compare somebody to Devante Graham because that, you know, was heinous and blasphemous to try to compare somebody to one of the all-time Bill self-grates, but just in terms of like that warm personality that has a leadership element to it, but in it, like there's different ways to lead. Some guys lead by example. Some guys lead by, you know, being that like fierce competitor. Like I think that's how Devon Dotson was as a leader.

Like I've heard some kind of funny stories about getting into certain players, you know, like La Gerald Vic and stuff like that. But, you know, you think of that as being more like the fierce type of leader. You think of some guys like leading with their heart like Thomas Robinson. And then you have the Devante Graham style of leader, which is like the kind of I'm going to smile and then be an assassin on the floor. I'm going to be like a fun loving dude who enjoys this game and spreads that joy around the court to everybody else. I think that's kind of the style of leader that Taylin Kinney is. and I think that will make him a fan favorite in a lot of ways.

When we look at the three biggest strengths for Kenny coming into the year, I think the passing and playmaking is the number one that I want to pose out here. Again, over five assists per game, over two to one assist to turnover ratio. I think the big question will be, can he limit the turnovers at the collegiate level? But you will see highlight passes. You will. I mean, he really has a good ability to find the open man, drive and kick, or throw difficult passes or find pocket passes or fit balls into tight windows that I think when you look at this Kansas team,

I think between him and Tyron Stokes, both freshmen coming in and then obviously Bliden with somebody who's averaging over four assists per game, there's going to be some really good passing for KU between the one through three positions in general, right? And I think for Kenny, that especially as a freshman, is going to be his biggest asset, especially when you look at the pieces around him, right? like Blyden can be a really good shooter. Stokes is just going to be a planet in his own in terms of how KU adjusts to him, throwing lobs to whoever the big man is, Reeves or Mbia, Keanu Daz is going to have the ball in his hands attacking on the offensive floor for KU as well. So having somebody who can kind of, you know, be a playmaker for others, set other people up and

make some difficult passes, I think he's going to be really nice for KU and I think he's really good at doing those things. I think shooting is another strength. Now, sometimes freshmen come in and they can struggle. Like I, always think back to like Tyrese Maxie, who is now one of the, what, I don't know, 25 best players in the NBA, maybe higher, I don't know, really good shooter, really good score. When he was at Kentucky, I want to say he shot like 29%, 28% from three. He was a good shooter, but sometimes it doesn't all come around as a freshman, right? Like sometimes that's the part of your game that has to grow.

And so I think if you're giving me the, you know, over under 29%, I'm going to take the over for Taylin Kinney. And I still think he is a good three-point shooter. I just, I have that warning label on it of like, but what if he shoots 31% from three? It wouldn't be that unorthodox for a young player. Now, that said, you're talking 36% from three at OTE, which plays I believe at the NBA three point line. I think he's going to be able to shoot it. I think you're looking at here, can he at least shoot 33, 34% plus, which would at least be,

you know, an average level of three point shooting? I think he can. He's also somebody who can hit. It's not just about can you hit threes. It's can you get them off in different situations, it's scenario. and play types that makes you a more diverse offense to go against. And I think he can do that. He can shoot them off action.

He can shoot him coming on a pull-up, right? He's actually a really good mid-range pull-up shooter as well. He can shoot them off the ball. If Tyrant Stokes is driving and Tyrant's a good passer and he kicks it out, he can shoot that as well. So I think that's helpful there. And then he is somebody who can make some tough shots. Sometimes the shot selection can get a little, you know, he's a young player.

Like that can kind of go that way at times. But I'd rather have the guys that you have to rein in with that sometimes. Not that he's bad shot selection. But I think when you get in a late shot clock situation or you need a tough bucket, he is going to be somebody who's able to do that for you on occasion, which is a nice thing to have. He also has really quick hands defensively. I mentioned earlier the 6-6 wingspan.

He gets his hands on a lot of balls, whether it's a tip pass or it does lead to a steel. And I don't know how good of a defender he is overall. We'll get to that in some of the questions. here, but I do think the very least he's going to be able to play make for you. And it's like if you're going to not be the best defender in the world, at least get some chaos going, at least get some steals or some blocks. And I think he'll be able to do that for you. The two biggest question marks here, I think the physical skills is the big one.

When you look at physical skills, their size and there's speed. And when you look at the size part of it, you know, he is only 6.1. He's a bit on the skinnier side size. Like, how does that affect you going against bigger? more athletic players at the college level than at the prep level in terms of when you're driving, right? Like is he going to be able to be a good enough finisher at the rim? How does that affect him on the defensive end? Does he get bumped off his spot a little bit more? I think from the foot speed side of things, we've seen so many young guards come in for Bill South and have success. A lot of them

have had like a really quick first step. I don't know that I would classify Kinney that same way. He's he's not the most fleet of foot. Not that he's slow. I mean, he's a McDonald's all American, but he's he's not, you know, Devante Graham, Frank Mason, Mario Chalmers, Sharon Collins, in terms of that quickness, Devon Dotson, or that first step or that speed or something like that. And how does that affect him again? Because we saw, we've seen guys before who were really skilled players like Bryce Thompson and Quentin Grimes come in as true freshman for KU. But they were more known for their skill of why they were rated as five-star recruits, not necessarily their speed. And it took both of those guys time to adjust to the college game. there are a chance that that happens with Kinney as well.

And then the other big question mark here, I think is going to be inconsistency. This sometimes happens with his jumper. It'll go in and out, which isn't too unfamiliar with jump shooters, but especially for young players and freshmen and how will that impact his role with the team. One final thought here for Kenny, he is a smaller guard. So this might be more than a one-year project with him, but that's exciting if it works out, right? Like you think about the five and five potentially passing. And I'm never going to expect any player KU brings in to be here five years,

just the transfer portal and how things work out. But I do think if you look at Kenny as being at least a two or three year player for KU, you know, that second or third year could be really fun. I think he's going to be a really good college player. Will it happen right away? Will he be more of a role player? If he can be a good role player, be a good fifth starter for KU this year, I would absolutely take that, right?

But let's talk about that possible role, sealing floor outcomes next. This is Locked on Jayhawks. Our episode today is brought to you by Odu. Running a business shouldn't feel like you're trying to connect to a bunch of systems that were never designed to work together. One app for accounting, another for inventory, another for sales, and somehow none of them talk to each other. That's where Odo comes in. Odu is an all-in-one business management software that brings every part of your business together in one powerful platform.

From sales and accounting to inventory and marketing, everything works in one place, helping your team move faster, stay organized and focused on. growing the business instead of managing software. Best organizations know that success isn't just about talent. It's about having everyone working toward the same goal. And that's true in sports, just like it is in business. I think about over the time that the bill self has been at Kansas, some of the different lineups and different styles that his team played,

whether it's been too big basketball at different points, whether it's been having that elite shop blocker in the middle, whether it's even playing small in the 2018 and 2017 seasons, just kind of different lineup styles and ways of playing, and he's always been able to make it work. And that's because he's adjusted to the talent he's had, the players he's had, because organizationally, they've been able to do some of those things

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That is locked on jahawks. Dot supercast. Dot com. What is the possible role and ceiling and floor outcome for Tainlin Kinney this year? And obviously there's always like, if you want to be like the,

oh, well, the ceiling outcome is national player of the year. The floor outcome is he never plays. Like, of course, that could be for any player, right? Or whatever. These are realistic ceiling and realistic floor. So it's like the 10th percentile outcome

and the 90th percentile outcome, right? So the floor outcome. come here for me for Taylin Kinney is this. I think he's coming off the bench for KU as the eighth man. Again, this is the floor outcome, right? Let's say he's not ready. Let's say there does take time to adjust to the collegiate game, like I said, with Grimes and Thompson, who also came in as five-star recruits, but weren't the most athletic in the world and we're more skilled players. If that ends up happening, I think it ends up being blighted as the starter next to one of Rosario or Parker, and then we have Stokes, Dawes, and your center at the five, right?

And then from that point, you're one of those six through eighth men, where regardless, there still would be a need for him at Kansas because they don't have a ton of ball handlers on the roster. And so there would still be a role there. But I think this would come about by just not being ready. The three-point shot isn't totally there. And the defense ends up being, you know, problematic. Maybe he's turning it over a little bit too much.

I think that would be the floor outcome here. I think the ceiling outcome, the best case scenario here, he starts all season for KU. He's your starting point card. He leads Kansas and assists per game. He shoots mid to high 30% from three. As much as you know, you don't know how you're going to shoot coming in as a true freshman.

It's not impossible. He comes in and shoots like 38% from three. Like that's how good of a shooter he could be. So I think all of those could be in the vein. And if he does do that, if he's your leader in assists per game and he's an opportunistic defender and he's shooting really well from three, he's going to be a really valuable piece as a complimentary starter for KU. Now, my predicted role is probably, and for most cases, is going to be somewhere in between the ceiling and the floor. And I think that's kind of the case here too. Like, I expect him to start games.

Would I be shocked if Cole Rosario or Dennis Parker at some point in the season started a game over him with Blyden as a starting point guard? No, I wouldn't be shocked by that, right? And as far as the three-point shooting, I would probably peg it 33 to 35%. I think that's fair. I think he's going to be a helpful player for KU. I don't think he'll be the best player on KU, but I think he'll definitely be somebody who gets started and is in the rotation consistently and is making a positive impact in general for KU.

And somebody that I feel pretty good about for the long term as well, based on what they do in this first year for Kansas, that, you know, if he does survive all year as the starter, even if there's some, some things that, okay, you know, you wish this was a little better, but he was still freshman. I think you'll feel like he's, he's one of those pillars going into his second season, which by the way, now with the five and five, do we call it freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, and then like super senior, or do we go first year, second year, third year, fourth, your fifth year? Do we come up with new names? Who knows? Now, the impact on KU based on his outcome, it would be.

huge for KU to hit his ceiling, right? There is not a ton of ball handlers on this roster. Leroy Blyden's a ball handler. Tyron Stokes will be a ball handler on offense, but outside of that, it's short in terms of at least guys that you want in the rotation. Like Luke Barnett, maybe he can handle

the ball a little bit there, but realistically, like, that's where Taylin Kinney is going to be thrust in a role regardless. Even if he's struggling, he'll still be in the rotation because you need somebody else to be able to do that. And then when you look at this Kansas team, I've kind of said throughout the off season, and we just did an episode of this, what was it, last week talking about how I do think they have enough three-point shooting.

And I do think it's being a little undersold on what they could be from three this season. But at the end of the day, how many elite three-point shooters do you have? Well, Blyden would be the one I would look to. If somebody else were to reach that, that possibility, Kenny would probably be the other guy you would go with. Maybe you'd pick Rosario or Parker. But I think for me, I would, if you were to tell me, you know, two, guys were to shoot 38% or better from three this year, Blighton and Kinney would be my two picks. And so having that would be really helpful for KU, right? Now, it's a lot of, to ask of a true

freshman to be your starting point guard. We have seen guys come in and be able to have success under Bill Self right away. I mean, guys that didn't include on this list, but guys who, you know, did come in and play right away as a freshman, Tishon Taylor, Sharon Collins, although he was playing kind of as a combo guard role in different ways for KU. have found success as early players, but the ones that I really wanted to look to, Mario Chalmers came in as a true freshman and averaged 11.5 points per game and almost four assists per game. He also shot almost 38% from three, right? That's a really good freshman season. If you guaranteed me that for Taylor and Kenny, I'd take it and run to the bank. Devon

Thompson as a freshman, very different player, but 12.3 points per game, three and a half assists per game on 36% from three, low volume from three. Again, it's tough to, because Kenny is going to be taking more threes than Dotson. He's also a better passer than Dotson, but Dotson, the better, you know, athlete and driver and probably overall defender. But if you, again, like, if you even gave me less than those, if you told me Kenny's going to average nine points per game where KU has, you know, Blyden and Stokes and Dawes all averaging more than him, he's going to get like four, four and a half assists per game on a decent assist of turnover ratio, you know, three, three and a half boards per game. He'll get you a stealer more per game. And he's shooting like,

like 35% from three, I'd gladly take those numbers too. I think of the role that I'm looking at him being where again, Stokes is your alpha, Blyden is your main scoring guard, and Dauze is going to be a, you know, 12, 13, 14, 14, 15 point per game score. I think that's more than enough of what I'm looking for. And that also doesn't seem too far fetched to ask of those specific numbers.

So, um, you know, I like Taylin Kinney's game. Um, I am trying to caution myself in terms of, Hey, he is still just a freshman. It could take a year. But if he can at least be a contributing player right away,

I think that will be really helpful for KU. And I do think that is a fair expectation to have coming into this year for the five-star point guard. Let's finish up with some of the latest news, including about KU baseball, the basketball tournament and a former Jayhawk stud defender is going to be back and a new passage of a new rule in the NCAA. This is Locked on Jayhawks. Thanks again for joining us. You can also check out the ad-free version of the show at Lockdownjahawks.

supercast.com, where you can join the everydayer club, locked on Jayhawks. dot supercast.com. Also get a part of our Discord membership. Okay, KU Baseball finishes ranked 12th in the pre-C or the postseason finale polls. D1 Baseball puts KU at number 12. The athletic puts KU baseball at number 12. So just missing out on the top 10,

but that's a really good ranking to finish out of season for KU. Obviously, Oklahoma wins at all, the team you lost to in the Super Regional, which starts to add up a little bit more and make more. sense of why the Sooners were so dominant in doing so. And it just is a reminder that I think, I think we all needed the reminder. It happened in 2011. You know, you're rooting for VCU to, I'm trying to think, were they playing Florida State in the Sweet 16?

Whoever they were playing in Cincinnati, I don't know, whoever they were playing in the Sweet 16, you're like, oh, yeah, I'd rather play the 11 seat if you're Kansas. And then you play that team and you're like, oh, no, they're the team of destiny. And that's what happened in this one where it's like, you know, oh, you don't want to play Georgia Tech. You don't want to have to go to their place. Georgia Tech's one of the best team in the country. They're averaging the most runs in the country. And then you're so happy.

Oklahoma wins. And I still think it's the right process to be like, I'd rather play the worst team over the course of the season on your home field. But it is just a reminder that like sometimes that ends up playing the team of destiny. Now, I guess the flip side to that is like I was rooting for Carolina to beat Duke in 2022. and I don't know, like, I guess it didn't end up being any easier of a game. KU had to make this mega comeback to win the game. But that was more so for me because I was like, if Coach K's in the national title game in his final game, he'll ever coach,

there's no chance these refs are going to let him lose this game, you know? So, yeah, I guess there's situations kind of look in both ways there. Meanwhile, KU's TBT team, J-Hawks, J-H-X, we've already heard a couple of the players that are going to be on the team with Zeke Mayo, of headlining it as one of your good shooters and probably one of your high scores for the upcoming team with Gerald Vic as well. He's done well in this event as a score. Well, Marcus Garrett, and I think Marcus Garrett was planning to play last year and then it didn't work out. Something came up scheduling wise. I don't know if it was with his pro team or what, but the idea is for him to play this year.

And I would just say this. Like, I saw Aaron Kraft be a dominant force on the defensive end in this event for like eight years. And I think Marcus Garrett's an even better defender than Aaron Kraft is. He's more versus tile. He's bigger. He's, you know, at this point, younger. He could be an absolute game changer on the defensive end. It would be super helpful too. We'll see if Michael Beasley actually ends up playing for Kansas State. You probably put Garrett on him to try to frustrate him, right? And then the last bit of news here, the five and five, the age-based eligibility role, it officially passes. It'll officially go into effect at the end of day, Wednesday when they conclude their meeting. But if you want more

information on how that affects KU and college sports and what it all means. We did a bonus episode on Tuesday. So highly recommend checking that out. And thank you if you're in every day or who already did check that one out as well. All right. That'll do it for this episode of Locked on Jayhawks. You can find our show anywhere you get your podcast, including on our YouTube page. We can like and subscribe to the show.

See you next time.