Taevion Kinsey | |
Position: | Shooting guard / small forward |
Height Ft: | 6 |
Height In: | 5 |
Weight Lbs: | 190 |
Team: | Free agent |
Birth Date: | 10 March 2000 |
Birth Place: | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
High School: | Eastmoor Academy (Columbus, Ohio) |
College: | Marshall (2018–2023) |
Draft Year: | 2023 |
Career Start: | 2023 |
Years1: | 2023–2024 |
Team1: | Salt Lake City Stars |
Highlights: |
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Taevion Kinsey (born March 10, 2000) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with 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]
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]
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]
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] 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]
|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19| style="text-align:left;"| Marshall| 37 || 13 || 24.8 || .587 || .357 || .667 || 4.0 || 1.3 || .8 || .5 || 10.5|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Marshall| 32 || 32 || 36.0 || .490 || .264 || .682 || 5.0 || 4.2 || 1.1 || .4 || 16.4|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| Marshall| 22 || 22 || 37.7 || .532 || .413 || .818 || 6.2 || 3.0 || .8 || .3 || 19.5|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| style="text-align:left;"| Marshall| 31 || 31 || 36.9 || .429 || .183 || .745 || 5.1 || 4.2 || 1.0 || .1 || 19.1|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23| style="text-align:left;"| Marshall| 32 || 32 || 37.8 || .556 || .404 || .744 || 4.9 || 5.4 || 1.7 || .5 || 22.1|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 154 || 130 || 34.1 || .507 || .302 || .732 || 4.9 || 3.6 || 1.1 || .4 || 17.1
Kinsey's older sister, Tajanee Wells, played college basketball for Ursuline College and Talladega College.