Taylen Kinney, Louisville and UK basketball recruit, sparks Newport at King of Bluegrass
Ranked No. 9 in the state in The Courier Journal’s preseason poll of coaches, the Newport High School boys basketball team is trying to keep things simple.
It’s the message behind the T-shirts the Wildcats sported during warmups Wednesday. On the back was the word “Overrated.”
It’s a reminder to tune out the outside noise.
“We know we have a lot of hype,” sophomore guard Taylen Kinney said. “So we just try to stay as humble as we can.”
Newport is living up to the hype so far, rolling to a 64-55 victory over Washington County in the first round of the Chad Gardner Law King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic at Fairdale.
The Wildcats (7-1) returned four starters from last season’s team that won the program’s first Ninth Region title since 2010. The addition of senior guard DeShaun Jackson — a transfer from Cincinnati Taft — has Newport in the conversation for a second straight trip to the Sweet 16.
“I don’t feel like we’re there right now,” coach Rodney Snapp said. “We’re still trying to figure things out. I don’t want to peak right now. Baby steps, baby steps, and then some bigger steps and hit that stride later on.”
Snapp laughed when asked about the “Overrated” T-shirts.
“That was the kids’ doing, not me,” he said. “I didn’t want to do that. … I’m an old-school guy. I played for my dad in Indiana. But if you don’t change with the times … it’s about the kids. I want them to have fun.”
Kinney, the No. 1-ranked sophomore in Kentucky’s Class of 2026 who is being recruited by Louisville and UK, led the way Wednesday with a game-high 19 points. He hit 3 of 5 3-point attempts.
Jackson added 17 points and seven assists, and senior Jabari Covington pitched in 11 points and eight rebounds.
Newport jumped to a 34-15 halftime lead and cruised home. Snapp credited his team’s half-court defense for the solid start.
”Just getting stops and allowing one shot and getting in the passing lanes,” he said.
No. 24 Washington County (6-1) got 18 points apiece from Gabe Weis and Beau Baker. Weis, a highly recruited 6-foot-7 sophomore, added 13 rebounds and two blocks.
Newport advanced to face No. 2 Great Crossing (7-0) in Thursday’s 7:30 p.m. quarterfinal.
“It’s the kind of matchup we want to see,” Snapp said. “It should be a great atmosphere.”
WASHINGTON COUNTY 9 6 15 25 – 55
NEWPORT 10 24 12 18 – 64
Washington County (6-1) – Kamar Phillips 8, Noah Reynolds 6, Tyler Bartley 3, Gabe Weis 18, Camden Abell 2, Beau Baker 18.
Newport (7-1) – Taylen Kinney 19, DaShawn Anderson 4, Jabari Covington 11, DeShaun Jackson 17, James Turner 7, Griffin Starks 4, Amontae Lowe 2.
Bowling Green 73, Harlan County 62
Senior guard M.J. Wardlow scored 25 points to lead the No. 7 Purples (6-2) over the No. 18 Black Bears (7-1).
Deuce Bailey and Mason Ritter both scored 13 points and Luke Idlett added 12 for Bowling Green, which will play Trinity in Thursday’s 9 p.m. quarterfinal.
Bowling Green was 9 for 17 from 3-point range, led by Idlett’s 4-for-6 performance. The Purples shot 49.1% overall and won the rebounding battle, 39-23.
South Carolina signee Trent Noah had 20 points and four assists to lead Harlan County.
HARLAN COUNTY 19 17 13 13 – 62
BOWLING GREEN 23 16 15 19 – 73
Harlan County (7-1) – Reggie Cottrell 13, Trent Noah 20, Maddox Huff 17, Caleb Johnson 2, Jaycee Carter 10.
Bowling Green (6-2) – Jace Wardlow 2, Deuce Bailey 13, Braylon Banks 8, Mason Ritter 13, M.J. Wardlow 25, Luke Idlett 12.
Little Rock Central 53, Chicago De La Salle 45
Missouri signee Annor Boateng had 18 points, three assists and three steals to lead the Tigers (9-0) over the Meteors (7-3).
Luke Moore added 14 points for Little Rock Central, which will face DeSales in Thursday’s 4:30 p.m. quarterfinal.
Charles Barnes scored 13 points to lead De La Salle.
DE LA SALLE 10 14 13 8 - 45
LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL 16 9 15 13 – 53
Chicago De La Salle (7-3) – Morgan Travis 2, Bryant Hedrick 2, Remi Edwards 2, Charles Barnes 13, Tavariyuan Williams 8, Richard Lindsey 10, Alioune Mbaye 8.
Little Rock Central (9-0) – Chris Washington 2, Daniel Culberson 7, Annor Boateng 18, Chase Allen 8, Luke Moore 14, Clay Blair 4.
King of the Bluegrass: A look back at Tuesday's first-round action, including Spencer County's upset of Male
Reach Jason Frakes at jfrakes@courier-journal.com and follow him on X @kyhighs.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: King of Bluegrass: Taylen Kinney lifts Newport basketball to win
