Tay Kinney gets the best of Darryn Peterson in battle between Kentucky targets
Darryn Peterson was the main attraction, but Tay Kinney stole the show.
On Friday night at the Griffin Elite Sports and Wellness facility, the two high school prospects went head-to-head in front of a packed northern Kentucky crowd. Peterson, a five-star class of 2025 shooting guard with offers from every major program, suited up for powerhouse Huntington Prep (WV) while Kinney, an unranked class of 2026 point guard, ran the show for nearby Newport (KY).
In a game that came down to the final possession, it was Kinney and the Wildcats that walked away with the upset win. Peterson missed a game-tying three-point attempt right before the final buzzer, handing Newport the 58-55 win. Newport’s No. 7 ranking in KSR’s Top 25 might see a jump come Monday’s update.
Kinney and Peterson actually posted nearly identical stats. Neither shot the ball all that well, but both hit the glass hard, got their teammates involved, and played hard on defense. However, it was Kinney’s defense on Peterson down the stretch of the fourth quarter that gave Newport the extra push it needed.
13 of Kinney’s 22 points came in the fourth, including one thunderous dunk that gave the Wildcats a two-point lead. Newport even trailed by 13 at one point in the second half before storming back.
Kinney: 22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers | 8-21 FG, 0-6 3PT, 6-7 FT (31 MIN)
Peterson: 22 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers | 8-23 FG, 1-7 3PT, 5-6 FT (32 MIN)
“I think I played good,” Kinney told KSR after the win. “I wasn’t hitting a lot of shots at the beginning of the game but I felt like I was rebounding well, playing defense, and making plays for my teammates.”
Peterson’s connection to John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats has been well-documented. Ranked No. 3 overall by the On3 Industry Ranking, the 6-foot-5 native of Ohio was the first 2025 recruit to earn a scholarship from Kentucky. He visited Lexington for Big Blue Madness and has received multiple visits from the UK staff. Regardless of how he played Friday night, Kentucky is rightfully prioritizing Peterson.
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As for Kinney, he’s a new face on the radar, but one Kentucky fans should begin to monitor more closely. The 6-foot sophomore already holds offers from the likes of Texas A&M, Louisville, Illinois, Cincinnati, Xavier, Ohio State, Dayton, and Purdue. He averaged 13.9 points point per game as a freshman last season, helping lead Newport to the Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena, where his squad ultimately lost in the first round to Travis Perry, a 2024 Kentucky commit out of Lyon County.
Following a solid summer on the AAU circuit, Kinney is quickly developing into a national recruit. Through seven games as a sophomore, Newport is 6-1 with Kinney averaging 18.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game on shooting splits of 47.8/38.2/83.9. Kentucky has yet to extend an offer, but the staff is keeping close tabs on him. Assistant coach Orlando Anitgua is leading this recruitment. Kinney was even with Peterson — and several other Kentucky targets — for Big Blue Madness, as well. He plans to visit UK soon to sit in on a practice.
“It was nice, great experience. Crazy environment for sure,” Kinney, who adds that he grew up a Kentucky fan, said of his time at BBM. “I was there with (Darius) Acuff, Gabe Weis, my teammate. Travis Perry, all those guys.”
Kinney and Weis, another talented sophomore from the Bluegrass State (Washington County) who is being recruited by UK, played together on the Adidas 3SSB circuit for Wildcat Select over the summer. Kinney and Perry have met and played at camps before.
Coaches from several schools were courtside to watch Kinney in person on Friday. Purdue, Cincinnati, Louisville, Texas A&M, and Xavier were programs he listed by name as ones he’s hearing from the most. He specifically mentioned his “real good” relationship with Louisville, particularly assistant coach Josh Jamieson.
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