Taevion Kinsey

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Taevion Kinsey

| image =

| caption =

| position = Shooting guard / small forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 5

| weight_lbs = 190

| league = NBA G League

| team = Salt Lake City Stars

| number = 24

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|3|10}}

| birth_place = Columbus, Ohio, U.S.

| high_school = Eastmoor Academy
(Columbus, Ohio)

| college = Marshall (2018–2023)

| draft_year = 2023

| career_start = 2023

| career_end =

| years1 = 2023–present

| team1 = Salt Lake City Stars

| highlights = * Sun Belt Player of the Year (2023)

First-team All-Sun Belt (2023)
First-team All-Conference USA (2021)
2× Second-team All-Conference USA (2020, 2022)
Conference USA All-Freshman Team (2019)

}}

Taevion Kinsey (born March 10, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Marshall Thundering Herd, becoming the school's all-time leading scorer.{{cite web|title=Kinsey Signs Free Agent Contract with Utah Jazz|url=https://herdzone.com/news/2023/6/23/mens-basketball-kinsey-signs-free-agent-contract-with-utah-jazz|work=Marshall University Athletics|date=June 23, 2023|access-date=June 23, 2023}}

Early life

Kinsey attended Eastmoor Academy in Columbus, Ohio. As a junior, he was named Division II District Player of the Year.{{cite web|first=Jarrod|last=Ulrey|title=City League Roundup: Warriors' Kinsey works to expand his game|url=https://www.thisweeknews.com/sports/20180122/city-league-roundup-warriors-kinsey-works-to-expand-his-game|work=ThisWeek Community News|date=January 22, 2018|access-date=December 28, 2020}} In his senior season, Kinsey averaged 19.5 points per game, earning Division II All-State second team honors.{{cite web|first=Rick|last=McCann|title=Dunking freshman Taevion Kinsey is a high flier for Thundering Herd|url=https://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/marshall_sports/dunking-freshman-taevion-kinsey-is-a-high-flier-for-thundering-herd/article_8b77b1e1-5acb-5345-9391-c37f03e166b9.html|work=The Herald-Dispatch|date=September 30, 2018|access-date=December 28, 2020}} He committed to playing college basketball for Marshall over offers from Kent State, Indiana State and UNC Asheville, among others.{{cite web|first=Rick|last=McCann|title=Marshall lands basketball recruit from Ohio|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/marshall_university/marshall-lands-basketball-recruit-from-ohio/article_fa38f709-13d2-5744-9490-644277ffd838.html|work=Charleston Gazette-Mail|date=April 18, 2018|access-date=December 28, 2020}}

College career

On January 12, 2019, Kinsey scored a freshman season-high 23 points and seven rebounds in a 70–69 win over Western Kentucky.{{cite web|title=Williams' 3 completes Marshall comeback over W. Kentucky|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401088187|website=ESPN.com|publisher=Associated Press|date=January 12, 2019|access-date=December 28, 2020}} He led Marshall to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament championship, posting 21 points and 11 rebounds in a 90–70 victory over Green Bay in the title game on April 4.{{cite web|title=Kinsey gives glimpse of future in final game of freshman season|url=https://wvmetronews.com/2019/04/05/324128/|work=WV MetroNews|date=April 5, 2019|access-date=December 28, 2020}} As a freshman, Kinsey averaged 10.5 points and four rebounds per game.{{cite web|first=Rick|last=McCann|title=Marshall basketball: Taevion Kinsey represents the future for the Herd|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/marshall_university/marshall-basketball-taevion-kinsey-represents-the-future-for-the-herd/article_377d595d-d51a-54bc-b091-cf9f1f033a8a.html|work=Charleston Gazette-Mail|date=April 6, 2019|access-date=December 28, 2020}} He was a two-time Conference USA Freshman of the Week and was named to the All-Freshman Team.{{cite web|first=Grant|last=Traylor|title=Kinsey named to C-USA All-Freshman Team|url=https://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/marshall_sports/kinsey-named-to-c-usa-all-freshman-team/article_e289cc54-9fef-5f83-81c9-912de9495386.html|work=The Herald-Dispatch|date=March 12, 2019|access-date=December 28, 2020}} On November 21, Kinsey recorded 14 points and 14 assists in a 91–63 win over Howard.{{cite web|title=Kinsey Paces Men's Basketball to Win over Howard with 14 Assists|url=https://herdzone.com/news/2019/11/22/kinsey-paces-mens-basketball-to-win-over-howard-with-14-assists.aspx|work=Marshall University Athletics|date=November 22, 2019|access-date=December 29, 2020}} On January 16, 2020, he tallied a sophomore season-high 29 points and 11 rebounds in a 77–75 loss to Charlotte.{{cite web|first=David|last=Walsh|title=Strong efforts from Kinsey, West not enough in loss to Charlotte|url=https://wvmetronews.com/2020/01/17/strong-efforts-from-kinsey-west-not-enough-in-loss-to-charlotte/|work=WV MetroNews|date=January 17, 2020|access-date=December 29, 2020}} He averaged 16.4 points, five rebounds and 4.2 assists per game as a sophomore, earning Second Team All-Conference USA honors.{{cite web|first=Patrick|last=O'Brien|title=Marshall's Taevion Kinsey living up to the hype and more|url=https://phenomhoopreport.com/marshalls-taevion-kinsey-living-up-to-the-hype-and-more/|work=Phenom Hoop Report|date=December 29, 2020|access-date=December 29, 2020}} On December 3, 2020, Kinsey recorded a career-high 31 points and seven rebounds in an 80–64 victory over Wright State. He averaged 19.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3 assists per game during his junior season.{{cite web|first=Grant|last=Traylor|title=Marshall basketball: Herd's Kinsey knew special game was on horizon|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/marshall_university/marshall-basketball-herds-kinsey-knew-special-game-was-on-horizon/article_dbb12a92-0339-5746-ad4c-ad4f0c133d8d.html|work=Charleston Gazette-Mail|date=December 4, 2020|access-date=December 29, 2020}} Kinsey was hampered by a leg injury as a senior but was named to the Second Team All-Conference USA.{{cite news|first=Grant|last=Taylor|title=Marshall basketball: Wheeler, Kinsey earn All-Conference USA honors|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/marshall_university/marshall-basketball-wheeler-kinsey-earn-all-conference-usa-honors/article_d7c4761d-9aa0-5f5a-85c5-0b38b64924f2.html|work=Charleston Gazette-Mail|date=March 7, 2022|access-date=March 14, 2022}}

On November 17, 2022, Kinsey surpassed the 2,000 point milestone, scoring 14 points in a win over Miami (OH).{{cite news|title= Marshall wins going away at Miami Ohio as Kinsey reaches 2,000 career points|url=https://wvmetronews.com/2022/11/17/marshall-wins-going-away-at-miami-ohio-as-kinsey-reaches-2000-career-points/|website=WVMetroNews.com|publisher=West Virginia MetroNews|date=November 17, 2022|access-date=November 19, 2022}} At the conclusion of the regular season, he was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.{{cite news|title=Kinsey named Sun Belt Player of the Year|url=https://wvmetronews.com/2023/02/28/kinsey-named-sun-belt-player-of-the-year/|work=West Virginia MetroNews|date=February 28, 2023|access-date=March 4, 2023}} In a quarterfinal loss in the 2023 Sun Belt tournament, Kinsey became the all-time leading scorer in Marshall history, passing Jon Elmore.{{cite web|title=Kinsey breaks Herd's all-time scoring record in 71-68 loss to Texas State|url=https://herdzone.com/news/2023/3/4/mens-basketball-marshall-mens-hoops-falls-in-sbc-quarterfinals|website=HerdZone.com|publisher=Marshall Thundering Herd|date=March 4, 2023|access-date=March 8, 2023}}

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Kinsey joined the Utah Jazz for the 2023 NBA Summer League. On August 30, 2023, he signed with the Jazz,{{cite web|first=Jeremy|last=Rincon|title=Utah Jazz Sign Kinsey, Langford, and Ongenda|url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-sign-kinsey-langford-and-ongenda|website=NBA.com|date=August 30, 2023|access-date=August 31, 2023}} but was waived on October 11.{{cite web|first=Jeremy|last=Rincon|title=Utah Jazz Sign Michael Devoe and Keshawn Justice|url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-sign-michael-devoe-and-keshawn-justice|website=NBA.com|date=October 11, 2023|access-date=October 11, 2023}} On October 30, he joined the Salt Lake City Stars.{{cite web|title=Stars Announce 2023-24 Training Camp Roster|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/stars-announce-2023-24-training-camp-roster/n-6027250|website=OurSportsCentral.com|date=October 30, 2023|access-date=January 26, 2024}}

On March 9, 2024, Kinsey signed a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz,{{cite web|title=Utah Jazz Sign Taevion Kinsey to 10-Day Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-sign-taevion-kinsey-to-10-day-contract|website=NBA.com|date=March 9, 2024|access-date=March 9, 2024}} but was waived on March 12 without playing for them.{{cite web|title=Utah Jazz Sign Darius Bazley|url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-sign-darius-bazley|website=NBA.com|date=March 12, 2024|access-date=March 13, 2024}} The next day, he returned to the Stars.{{cite web|title=2023-2024 Salt Lake City Stars Transaction History|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/gleague/teams/Salt-Lake-City-Stars/42/Transaction_History/2024|website=RealGM.com|access-date=March 16, 2024}}

On July 5, 2024, Kinsey signed a two-way contract with the Jazz,{{cite web|title=Utah Jazz Sign Taevion Kinsey to Two-Way Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-sign-taevion-kinsey-to-two-way-contract|website=NBA.com|date=July 5, 2024|access-date=July 5, 2024}} but was waived on August 12.{{cite web|first=Gabby|last=Hundman|title=Utah Jazz Sign Oscar Tshiebwe to Two-Way Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-sign-oscar-tshiebwe-to-two-way-contract|website=NBA.com|date=August 12, 2024|access-date=August 12, 2024}} On September 27, he re-signed with the Jazz,{{cite web|title=Utah Jazz Sign Taevion Kinsey and Isaiah Wong|url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-sign-taevion-kinsey-and-isaiah-wong|website=NBA.com|date=September 27, 2024|access-date=September 28, 2024}} but was waived once again on October 8.{{cite web|first=Jeremy|last=Rincon|title=Utah Jazz Waive Abmas, Kinsey, and Wong|url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-waive-abmas-kinsey-and-wong|website=NBA.com|date=October 8, 2024|access-date=October 8, 2024}} On October 28, he rejoined the Stars.{{cite web|title=Stars Announce 2024-25 Training Camp Roster|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/stars-announce-2024-25-training-camp-roster/n-6160474|website=OurSportsCentral.com|date=October 28, 2024|access-date=November 2, 2024}}