Should we throw a KUHearings party in NYC? 🍻

We’re cooking up a KUHearings x Homefield Apparel pre-game party in New York City before Kansas takes on Duke on Nov 18. Think: free drink, food, and a packed room of KU fans.

But we need your help! Let us know if you’re planning to go to the game and would likely come hang at the KUHearings party.

Your responses tell us if this is the right time and place to celebrate as a KU fan community. If the interest is there, we’ll try and make it happen.

• 🔮 Hearing: KU trending up for ‘26 5-star

• 📝 Quick Links: Preseason hoops rankings

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EVERYTHING IN THIS NEWSLETTER IS BASED UPON WHAT I AM HEARING FROM PEOPLE I TRUST. PLEASE DO NOT MISTAKE THIS FOR FACT OR FOR ACTUAL JOURNALISM, WHICH HAS VERIFICATION STANDARDS THAT I HAVE NOT ADHERED TO. I DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT.

🔮 Hearing: KU Trending Up 2026 No. 1 PG Tay Kinney

The No. 1 point guard in the 2026 class has set his announcement for September 28 — and I'm Hearing Kansas is trending ahead as the frontrunner.

Taylen "Tay" Kinney, a Kentucky native, will choose between Kansas, Louisville, Kentucky, Arkansas, Indiana, and Oregon.

Landing the 6’2” PG would be a huge statement in Louisville and Kentucky’s backyard. He’d be a fitting handoff for a Kansas program that’ll be replacing Darryn Peterson next year.

This is what I’m Hearing:

Kinney’s Game

• Kinney is a skilled guard with a 6’7” wingspan that makes him a dangerous and effective finisher. His length and quickness make him the kind of all-around player that Bill Self looks for in guards.

• 247Sports’ scouting report (Adam Finkelstein): “Scoring and playmaking lead guard who is smooth and versatile with his attack. He’s a multi-level scoring threat with a creative and crisp handle to get to his advanced pull-up game or pressure the rim.”

• His three-point shooting has shown meaningful signs of improvement this summer (47.6% at NBPA Top-100), but has been hit-and-miss in the past. This will be a key growth area for his game.

Where KU Stands

• The Pitch: Kinney told 247Sports that “‘Coach Self tossed me his keys, and he was basically like, ‘This is yours next year.’”

• Top Schools: Louisville is the in-state option and most realistic threat to KU. Kentucky, Arkansas, Oregon, and Indiana have all been heavily involved at various points of the recruitment.

• What I’m Hearing: KU took the lead in Kinney’s recruitment when he visited in late August. Everything I’m Hearing suggests the Jayhawks are the solid favorite right now, but…

  • Plenty of experts have started to make this prediction, but I still expect schools like Louisville to keep making a run at Kinney…

• KU is in as good a spot as you can be for a 5-star decision ~two weeks out from an announcement.

  • In other words: It looks good (genuinely), but you know how this goes. There’s never a sure thing in recruiting.

    • As of today, I like where KU stands.

    • I’ll keep you posted if that changes.

Timeline

Here’s how KU took the lead. These are summaries of VIP texts sent out to upgraded subscribers about Kinney:

• 9/3: Hearing: KU established itself as the favorite for Kinney following his visit to Lawrence

• 9/9: Hearing: KU is in a 'very good' spot for Kinney, but I want to work through conflicting info. I'd Heard Kinney wanted to decide privately this week. 👀

• 9/10: The smoke around KU leading for Kinney has increased. I'm Hearing the staff will travel to see him tomorrow…

• 9/11: Kinney sets a commitment date

• 9/28: Kinney’s planned commitment date

It lines up well for the Jayhawks…

Bottom Line

Kansas leads. Louisville’s in-state pull and a planned Arkansas visit are real threats, but Self has the clear advantage right now.

Landing Kinney would be huge. KU would bring in another PG with pro potential following up Darryn Peterson, continuing the program's elite point guard pipeline.

With 5-stars, nothing’s guaranteed until they’ve signed. But right now, KU is set up as well as possible.

As always, I’ll keep you posted.

How you can support KU Hearings!

Tell your friends about today’s Hearing by signing up for VIP or copy and pasting this link into your group texts or on social media.

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🏀 The Field of 68 released their first preseason rankings for college basketball. See where the Jayhawks landed.

🏈 Watch Lance Leipold’s press conference ahead of the West Virginia game.

 🏈 KU’s social media is suggesting KU will be rocking its black, Warhawk uniforms. Blackout at The Booth?!

👕 And check out the two brand new drops from Homefield Apparel, including their first-ever KU hat and tri-stripe crewneck. Check them out here!

P.S. Reminder to respond at the top of this email and let us know if you think you’d make it to NYC for KU-Duke!