Taevion Kinsey Bio
Taevion Kinsey (born March 10, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League. He plays the shooting guard position and stands 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) tall, weighing 190 lb (86 kg). A native of Columbus, Ohio, Kinsey rose to prominence as the all-time leading scorer for the Marshall Thundering Herd during his five-year college career.
After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Kinsey built his professional resume through the Utah Jazz organization and its G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, before joining the Golden State Warriors’ affiliate in 2025. He is widely recognized as one of the most productive scorers in Marshall basketball history and a Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.
Early Life and Background
Taevion Kinsey was born on March 10, 2000, in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up in the same city. He attended Eastmoor Academy, a well-known high school in Columbus where he developed his basketball skills and emerged as a standout prospect. As a junior, he was named Division II District Player of the Year, signaling his potential as a future college and professional player.
During his senior season at Eastmoor Academy, Kinsey averaged 19.5 points per game and earned Division II All-State second team honors. His high school performance attracted interest from several college programs, and he ultimately committed to Marshall over offers from Kent State, Indiana State, and UNC Asheville, among others.
Path to Basketball
Kinsey’s path to professional basketball began in earnest at Marshall, where he spent five seasons with the Thundering Herd from 2018 to 2023. As a freshman in 2018-19, he made an immediate impact, scoring a season-high 23 points and grabbing seven rebounds in a 70-69 win over Western Kentucky on January 12, 2019. He helped lead Marshall to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament championship that season, posting 21 points and 11 rebounds in a 90-70 victory over Green Bay in the title game on April 4.
He averaged 10.5 points and four rebounds per game as a freshman, earning two Conference USA Freshman of the Week honors and a spot on the All-Freshman Team. By his sophomore year, Kinsey was averaging 16.4 points, five rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, earning Second Team All-Conference USA recognition. His continued development set the stage for a record-setting career at Marshall and a transition to the professional ranks.
Taevion Kinsey Career
Early Career (2018-2022)
During his first three seasons at Marshall, Taevion Kinsey established himself as one of the most consistent scorers in Conference USA. As a sophomore, he tallied a season-high 29 points and 11 rebounds in a 77-75 loss to Charlotte on January 16, 2020, and earned Second Team All-Conference USA honors at season’s end. He followed that with a junior campaign in which he recorded a career-high 31 points and seven rebounds in an 80-64 victory over Wright State on December 3, 2020, while averaging 19.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and three assists per game.
Kinsey was hampered by a leg injury during his senior year but still earned Second Team All-Conference USA recognition. On November 17, 2022, he surpassed the 2,000-point milestone in his career, scoring 14 points in a win over Miami (OH), cementing his place among the most productive scorers in Marshall history.
Marshall Senior Year and Sun Belt Move (2022-2023)
In his final season at Marshall, Taevion Kinsey reached the pinnacle of his college career. With Marshall now competing in the Sun Belt Conference, he was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year at the conclusion of the regular season, capping a remarkable five-year run with the program.
During the 2023 Sun Belt tournament, Kinsey became the all-time leading scorer in Marshall history, surpassing Jon Elmore’s previous record. That achievement, combined with his Sun Belt Player of the Year award and First-team All-Sun Belt selection, solidified his legacy as one of the greatest players in Marshall Thundering Herd history.
NBA G League Career (2023-Present)
After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Taevion Kinsey joined the Utah Jazz for the 2023 NBA Summer League. On August 30, 2023, he signed with the Jazz but was waived on October 11, 2023. He then joined the Salt Lake City Stars, the Jazz’s G League affiliate, on October 30, 2023, beginning his professional career in earnest.
On March 9, 2024, Kinsey signed a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz, though he was waived on March 12 without appearing in a game and returned to the Stars the next day. He signed a two-way contract with the Jazz on July 5, 2024, was waived on August 12, re-signed on September 27, and was waived again on October 8. He rejoined the Salt Lake City Stars on October 28, 2024, and remained with the organization through the end of the 2024-25 season.
For the 2025-26 season, Kinsey was added to the roster of the Golden State Warriors’ NBA G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, beginning a new chapter in his professional career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Taevion Kinsey is known primarily as a scorer and playmaker from the shooting guard position. His college resume highlighted his ability to score at multiple levels, rebound effectively for his position, and distribute the ball to teammates, as evidenced by his 14-assist performance against Howard and his consistent 4.2 assists per game as a sophomore. His development under multiple conference systems, including Conference USA and the Sun Belt, prepared him for the pace and physicality of professional basketball.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Taevion Kinsey’s most significant achievements is becoming the all-time leading scorer in Marshall history, surpassing Jon Elmore during the 2023 Sun Belt tournament. Other milestones include surpassing the 2,000-point career mark on November 17, 2022, leading Marshall to the 2019 CollegeInsider.com Tournament championship, and earning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year honors in 2023.
Taevion Kinsey Career Wins
Taevion Kinsey’s career achievements include a series of individual awards and accolades earned at both the college and professional levels. He was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in 2023, the same year he was selected First-team All-Sun Belt. Earlier in his career, he earned First-team All-Conference USA honors in 2021 and two Second-team All-Conference USA selections in 2020 and 2022.
College and Conference Awards
Kinsey was a two-time Conference USA Freshman of the Week and a member of the Conference USA All-Freshman Team in 2019. His selection as Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in 2023 marked a defining moment in his career and reinforced his standing as one of the top scorers in Marshall history.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his individual awards, Kinsey helped lead Marshall to the 2019 CollegeInsider.com Tournament championship, posting 21 points and 11 rebounds in the title game. He also recorded multiple 20-plus point performances throughout his college career, including a career-high 31 points against Wright State in December 2020.
Taevion Kinsey Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Taevion Kinsey’s family has played a meaningful role in his basketball journey. He grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where he attended Eastmoor Academy and developed into one of the top high school players in the area.
Personal Life
Taevion Kinsey’s older sister, Tajanee Wells, played college basketball for Ursuline College and Talladega College, reinforcing the family’s strong connection to the sport. His upbringing in Columbus, Ohio, and his family’s athletic background helped shape his path to a professional basketball career.
2025 Season Performance
For the 2025-26 NBA G League season, Taevion Kinsey joined the Santa Cruz Warriors, the G League affiliate of the Golden State Warriors. The move marked a fresh start following two seasons with the Salt Lake City Stars and multiple stints with the parent Utah Jazz organization. He was added to the Santa Cruz roster as part of the team’s preparation for the new season.
Kinsey brings veteran G League experience to the Santa Cruz Warriors, having spent the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons developing with the Salt Lake City Stars. His track record as a scorer, playmaker, and rebounder, combined with his professional experience within the Utah Jazz system, positioned him as a valuable addition to the Golden State Warriors’ development pipeline.
As the 2025-26 season unfolds, Kinsey will look to build on his Marshall legacy and continue pursuing his goal of establishing himself as a full-time NBA player. His combination of scoring ability, size for a shooting guard, and professional experience make him a player to watch in the G League this season.
