Taevion Kinsey: 2022 NBA Draft Scouting Report
A freak athlete, Kinsey's draft stock is hurt by erratic shooting over his career
Last year, Marshall wing Taevion Kinsey was seen as an appealing sleeper in draft circles. A long, athletic 6’5”, Kinsey pieced together a great junior season for Dan D’Antoni in 2020-21’s pandemic-riddled year. The Thundering Herd’s best player finished that campaign averaging 19.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and shot 41.3% from 3-point range on 2.1 attempts.
Kinsey finally figured out the shooting. His first two years with the Herd were not as kind to him: 31.0% from 3 on the same volume. Many mid-major wings put up big numbers in college as the top options on their team, then must learn to translate their game to a smaller volume if they wish to fit into an NBA role. Shooting over 40% from 3-point range, even if he wasn’t making fewer than one per game, was a positive indicator that Kinsey would be alright.
Then came his senior campaign. As of March 3rd, Kinsey is shooting an abysmal 15.5% from 3-point range. He’s inefficient off the dribble and in catch-and-shoot situations. He’s shouldering a big load within the Marshall offense but no larger than a season ago.
There is still a real amount of intrigue for Kinsey — he’s one of the best athletes in this draft class, has real defensive potential and a solid feel for the game off the bounce. But if the shooting cannot come around, an NBA roster feels like a longshot for him.
The poor shooting season cost Kinsey a bit in terms of draft stock. While last year he could have knocked on the door for the mid-to-late 2nd round, this year he’s more on the borderline between Summer League invite and undrafted free agent signing on draft night. There’s real upside here worth exploring, especially if a team feels like they can fix the shooting form to turn him into a legitimate 3-and-D style wing. But spending a draft pick on a four-year college player with this inconsistent track record is seldom seen.
Below are some statistical profiles and models on Kinsey: