Taevion Kinsey

Taevion Kinsey
No. 24 – Salt Lake City Stars
PositionShooting guard / small forward
LeagueNBA G League
Personal information
Born (2000-03-10) March 10, 2000 (age 24)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High schoolEastmoor Academy
(Columbus, Ohio)
CollegeMarshall (2018–2023)
NBA draft2023: undrafted
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–presentSalt Lake City Stars
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

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.[1]

Early life

Kinsey attended Eastmoor Academy in Columbus, Ohio. As a junior, he was named Division II District Player of the Year.[2] In his senior season, Kinsey averaged 19.5 points per game, earning Division II All-State second team honors.[3] He committed to playing college basketball for Marshall over offers from Kent State, Indiana State and UNC Asheville, among others.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6] As a freshman, Kinsey averaged 10.5 points and four rebounds per game.[7] He was a two-time Conference USA Freshman of the Week and was named to the All-Freshman Team.[8] On November 21, Kinsey recorded 14 points and 14 assists in a 91–63 win over Howard.[9] On January 16, 2020, he tallied a sophomore season-high 29 points and 11 rebounds in a 77–75 loss to Charlotte.[10] He averaged 16.4 points, five rebounds and 4.2 assists per game as a sophomore, earning Second Team All-Conference USA honors.[11] 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.[12] Kinsey was hampered by a leg injury as a senior but was named to the Second Team All-Conference USA.[13]

On November 17, 2022, Kinsey surpassed the 2,000 point milestone, scoring 14 points in a win over Miami (OH).[14] At the conclusion of the regular season, he was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.[15] In a quarterfinal loss in the 2023 Sun Belt tournament, Kinsey became the all-time leading scorer in Marshall history, passing Jon Elmore.[16]

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,[17][1] but was waived on October 11.[18] On October 30, he joined the Salt Lake City Stars.[19]

On March 9, 2024, Kinsey signed a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz,[20] but was waived on March 12 without playing for them.[21] The next day, he returned to the Stars.[22]

On July 5, 2024, Kinsey signed a two-way contract with the Jazz,[23] but was waived on August 12.[24] On September 27, he re-signed with the Jazz,[25] but was waived once again on October 8.[26] On October 28, he rejoined the Stars.[27]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Marshall 37 13 24.8 .587 .357 .667 4.0 1.3 .8 .5 10.5
2019–20 Marshall 32 32 36.0 .490 .264 .682 5.0 4.2 1.1 .4 16.4
2020–21 Marshall 22 22 37.7 .532 .413 .818 6.2 3.0 .8 .3 19.5
2021–22 Marshall 31 31 36.9 .429 .183 .745 5.1 4.2 1.0 .1 19.1
2022–23 Marshall 32 32 37.8 .556 .404 .744 4.9 5.4 1.7 .5 22.1
Career 154 130 34.1 .507 .302 .732 4.9 3.6 1.1 .4 17.1

Personal life

Kinsey's older sister, Tajanee Wells, played college basketball for Ursuline College and Talladega College.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Kinsey Signs Free Agent Contract with Utah Jazz". Marshall University Athletics. June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Ulrey, Jarrod (January 22, 2018). "City League Roundup: Warriors' Kinsey works to expand his game". ThisWeek Community News. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  3. ^ McCann, Rick (September 30, 2018). "Dunking freshman Taevion Kinsey is a high flier for Thundering Herd". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  4. ^ McCann, Rick (April 18, 2018). "Marshall lands basketball recruit from Ohio". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  5. ^ "Williams' 3 completes Marshall comeback over W. Kentucky". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 12, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  6. ^ "Kinsey gives glimpse of future in final game of freshman season". WV MetroNews. April 5, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  7. ^ McCann, Rick (April 6, 2019). "Marshall basketball: Taevion Kinsey represents the future for the Herd". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  8. ^ Traylor, Grant (March 12, 2019). "Kinsey named to C-USA All-Freshman Team". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  9. ^ "Kinsey Paces Men's Basketball to Win over Howard with 14 Assists". Marshall University Athletics. November 22, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  10. ^ Walsh, David (January 17, 2020). "Strong efforts from Kinsey, West not enough in loss to Charlotte". WV MetroNews. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  11. ^ O'Brien, Patrick (December 29, 2020). "Marshall's Taevion Kinsey living up to the hype and more". Phenom Hoop Report. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  12. ^ Traylor, Grant (December 4, 2020). "Marshall basketball: Herd's Kinsey knew special game was on horizon". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  13. ^ Taylor, Grant (March 7, 2022). "Marshall basketball: Wheeler, Kinsey earn All-Conference USA honors". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  14. ^ "Marshall wins going away at Miami Ohio as Kinsey reaches 2,000 career points". WVMetroNews.com. West Virginia MetroNews. November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  15. ^ "Kinsey named Sun Belt Player of the Year". West Virginia MetroNews. February 28, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  16. ^ "Kinsey breaks Herd's all-time scoring record in 71-68 loss to Texas State". HerdZone.com. Marshall Thundering Herd. March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  17. ^ Rincon, Jeremy (August 30, 2023). "Utah Jazz Sign Kinsey, Langford, and Ongenda". NBA.com. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  18. ^ Rincon, Jeremy (October 11, 2023). "Utah Jazz Sign Michael Devoe and Keshawn Justice". NBA.com. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  19. ^ "Stars Announce 2023-24 Training Camp Roster". OurSportsCentral.com. October 30, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  20. ^ "Utah Jazz Sign Taevion Kinsey to 10-Day Contract". NBA.com. March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  21. ^ "Utah Jazz Sign Darius Bazley". NBA.com. March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  22. ^ "2023-2024 Salt Lake City Stars Transaction History". RealGM.com. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  23. ^ "Utah Jazz Sign Taevion Kinsey to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. July 5, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  24. ^ Hundman, Gabby (August 12, 2024). "Utah Jazz Sign Oscar Tshiebwe to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  25. ^ "Utah Jazz Sign Taevion Kinsey and Isaiah Wong". NBA.com. September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  26. ^ Rincon, Jeremy (October 8, 2024). "Utah Jazz Waive Abmas, Kinsey, and Wong". NBA.com. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  27. ^ "Stars Announce 2024-25 Training Camp Roster". OurSportsCentral.com. October 28, 2024. Retrieved November 2, 2024.