Illinois Basketball: Illini getting in mix for 2026 point guard

Illinois basketball is getting in early on a rising point guard for the future.

It is never too early to start looking at talented players. Every program has to go through some changes after each season concludes. Just look at the Illini. We have gone through a massive roster change each of the past two years.

That is why establishing relationships and offering players scholarships early on in their careers is essential. We need to be able to build that trust in the player so, hopefully, they eventually come to play in Champaign.

Illinois is doing that with point guard Taylen Kinney. On Wednesday, Kinney took to social media to announce that he had received a scholarship offer from the Illini.

Illinois basketball target Taylen Kinney is going to be one of the best players in the country

Kinney is a 6-foot, 160-pound point guard from Newport High School in Kentucky. He isn’t rated or ranked just yet, but that is due to the fact that he is from the class of 2026. There isn’t a single player who has a ranking on 247Sports from the 2026 class.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t tell a player has the potential to be one of the best in the country when his class rankings do get released.

Kinney just picked up an offer from Illinois, and he already has offers from teams like Louisville and Texas A&M. He just finished his freshman year of high school. He can’t even drive yet, and Kinney already has big-time DI offers. That means these programs see amazing talent in this kid.

Watching him play the game is fun as well. He has great handles and loves to slash to the basket. Getting in the lane and getting to the free throw line will come easy to Kinney. He also has a nice jump shot, which will help, especially when teams play zone.

It is a good idea to start establishing ties with a player like Kinney. He is going to have his pick of any team in the country. Hopefully, Illinois is there at the end.