Northern Kentucky native and 4-star point guard Taylen Kinney is set to take an official visit to the University of Kentucky beginning June 24, according to Sam Kayser of League Ready

Kinney, a top-25 prospect in the class of 2026, currently plays for Overtime Elite (OTE) in Atlanta, Georgia. Known for his explosive first step, playmaking ability, and leadership at the point guard spot, Kinney has become one of the most sought-after backcourt players in his class.

His connection to the Wildcats, however, runs deep.

The in-state standout previously made an unofficial visit to Lexington last year. Since then, the relationship between Kinney and Kentucky has only strengthened.

Earlier this spring, Pope, along with assistant coaches Jason Hart and Cody Fueger, made an in-home visit to meet with Kinney and his family. It was a clear signal that the Wildcats view Kinney as a priority target for their 2026 recruiting class.

Kinney’s upcoming official visit offers the staff a chance to build on their relationship and get a closer look at Pope’s vision for the program and the revamped facilities. It is also an opportunity for Kinney to connect with current players and get a feel for the atmosphere in Lexington.

For Kentucky, locking in an in-state star like Kinney would be a major win, and for Kinney, it’s another step in evaluating what could be a homegrown path to college stardom.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more Kentucky Wildcats news. And as always, Go CATS!!!

The Bike Rodeo and Safety Fair returned to downtown Riverbank this past week, with lots of fun activities for the youngsters who participated, and a number of bicycles given away.

The event was again organized by Central Valley Community Resources and Riverbank Police Services, and officials were extremely pleased with the 37 bicycles donated by people and organizations in the area.

Bikes were donated by Target, Aemitis, Fun Sports Bike Shop, 108 Sports Lounge, F&M Bank, Royal Neighbors of America, Paparazzi, and Hooked on Bling4Nails.

Donors also included Timeless Real Estate, Friends of Jacob Myers Park and Riverbank Police Services.

Booths at the event were sponsored by Royal Neighbors of America, Love Riverbank, Life Guards at the City of Riverbank.

They also included Riverbank Police Services, Red Robin, Hooked on Bling4Nails, Paparazzi Jewelry, United Way, Timeless Real Estate, Promatoras, and Kids Safe, through Doctors Hospital, which provided free bike helmets to young cyclists.

In years past, the Bike Rodeo started out being held on Santa Fe Street, between Sixth and Seventh streets, in front of the Community Center and Cardozo Middle School, but was moved downtown just a few years ago to take advantage of the shade on Third Street and Plaza del Rio Park.

Along with learning about bicycle safety and the rules of the road, attendees enjoyed some games and could do some craft projects, with a random drawing for the donated bicycles also a part of the evening.

Closing out their high school athletic careers in style, a quartet of Escalon High senior Cougars were recognized with the top awards for the Class of 2025.

Samuel Jimenez and Genevieve Casazza were selected as the Bob & Mark Loureiro Most Inspirational Senior Athletes, while Karisa McNeil and Ryan Lewis received honors as the Lloyd C. Engel Most Outstanding Senior Athletes.

The honors were presented as the final piece of the last sports awards night of the school year, highlighting spring sports as well as the top senior award recognition.

For Jimenez, it was a bittersweet moment, as he lost his entire senior season to injury, suffering a torn ACL at a football camp just prior to the start of the 2024-25 school year. He was poised for a huge senior season but the devastating knee injury kept him off the playing field as a competitor for the entire football season last fall and basketball this past winter.

He remained with his teams, however, serving almost as an assistant coach on the football sidelines and the basketball bench, offering encouragement, support and guidance to his teammates.

“Gives me chills and even gets me a little bit choked up, just to start talking about this young man. It hurt every coach involved in this young man’s life on a personal level to see what he went through and what he lost this school year,” EHS Athletic Director and varsity head football coach Andrew Beam said of Jimenez. “Not because of his athletic abilities but the heartbreak of losing the memories that he was deprived of, of being a senior on the hardwood or the football field, which he had worked so hard for the last three years.”

While he was unable to play football, he remained a team captain, involved in every contest. On the basketball court, he was able to take one shot this season; it turned out to hit nothing but net and was an emotional moment for the team, the crowd and even their opponents that night, understanding the enormity of the swish.

He was key to the football team’s Section title win over Patterson during his junior season.

“He was one of the best basketball and football players to come through this school, period, regardless of his senior year,” Beam added.

Jimenez was humbled by the recognition.

“This means everything; I figured since I’m hurt, I can’t contribute on the field or on the court … I might as well try to do my best to contribute otherwise,” Jimenez said. “It was all tough but I’m glad it impacted people and I still got something out of it, it was a learning experience and I couldn’t be more happy, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Jimenez plans to attend MJC and will suit up for football, while study kinesiology in the classroom. He also feels that his senior year opened up the possibility of coaching in the future.

“It’s going to be part of my calling eventually,” he predicted.

For Casazza, her sports were golf in the fall, softball in the spring.

She was lauded by Beam for helping “lead our female golf team from a 1-11 record in 2023 to a 9-3 record, second place in the TVL in 2024.”

As a softball player, she was the lone senior on this year’s team, and her coach Caitlin Schulte said “she played a variety of positions, doing whatever was asked of her” to help the Lady Cougars.

She was described as “the ultimate team player and teammate,” said Beam.

Casazza said she doesn’t necessarily think of herself as inspirational; she just wants to be there for her teammates.

“When I play, I like to play for my teammates because when they do good, it makes me feel good because I know they’re having fun,” she admitted. “And if they’re having fun, I’m having fun too and when everybody is supportive, it just supports the team dynamic.”

She was coached in golf by her dad, Chris Casazza, and together they helped lead the team turnaround from a last place team to a TVL title contender.

“It was exciting, none of us were really expecting that at all,” she said, adding that there were many inexperienced players but they grew together as a team. “We definitely had to push each other; we had to believe in ourselves.”

Casazza is headed to UC Davis where she will major in Biological Sciences to go on to Pre-Med.

A four-year varsity soccer athlete and a four-year volleyball player, serving as a captain on both the pitch and the court, Karisa McNeil was described by Beam as “a competitor through and through” and one who was always there to support her teammates whether it was on the volleyball court in the fall or the soccer field in the winter season.

She is Escalon High School’s all-time leader in saves among female goalies and has been a stable force in front of the goal for four years; as well as a steadying presence on the court for her volleyball team.

“I was very shocked; I did not expect to get this award, but I’m very grateful for it and for anybody that voted for me but I was definitely very shocked that I got it,” admitted McNeil.

She added that soccer is her favorite sport, having played it since she was five years old.

“It’s always been part of my life,” she said. “I hope to continue to play some rec soccer when I go to college.”

McNeil will attend Cal State Monterey Bay and study psychology.

Recognized for his accomplishments in football and basketball, Ryan Lewis was a four-year varsity starter for the football Cougars and accumulated 56 varsity starts, never missing a game.

“He was a four-time first team All-League player, four-time All-District player, two-time TVL Defensive Player of the Year, two-time First Team All-State. Also, a two-time TVL champion, won three straight Section titles, played in three NorCal championships and played for one state title in 2022,” Beam said of Lewis.

He also played basketball for four years at EHS and was an integral part of the team.

“He will continue his (football) career at Fresno State, where we are all eager to watch him thrive,” Beam said.

Lewis – who previously signed his Letter of Intent to play for Fresno State – was appreciative of the Engel honor.

“I’ve been extremely blessed to be surrounded by amazing teammates, amazing coaching staffs throughout all my sports and I’m very grateful for the opportunity and I think I made the most of it for sure,” Lewis said. “We won a few (football) Section titles, which is awesome, a lot of people don’t even get the chance to do that at all so I’m just really happy that I was able to be involved in these games and have these opportunities; I’m just grateful and I’ll remember these the rest of my life.”

He is eager to start his time at Fresno State, embracing the experience and getting the opportunity to play at the collegiate level.

The Engel award winners also each receive a $250 scholarship.

Beginning in September, the Standard-Times recognized some of the top high school performances by soliciting nominations and naming finalists for the City National Bank Athlete of the Week.

Weekly voting lasted throughout the school year and produced 36 Athletes of the Week.

Now, readers will have a chance to choose from those honorees to name a Standard-Times City National Bank Fan Favorite High School Athlete of the Year.

Voting will break down over two weeks beginning June 17 and will run Tuesday through Sunday each week, with voting wrapping up at noon every Monday.

The 16 athletes who receive the most votes this week will advance to the second round of voting beginning June 24.

Voting totals will reset each week.

The athletes represent schools of every size across West Texas. The City National Bank Fan Favorite Athlete of the year will be voted on and selected from the 16 finalists beginning June 24.

Each athlete is listed alphabetically with the sport they were chosen for Athlete of the Week. Take a look at the finalists and vote below for the 2024-2025 Standard-Times City National Bank Fan Favorite High School Athlete of the Year.

Nominees

Marianna Aguilar, Reagan County softball

Chris Alvizo, Lake View football

Chloe Becker, Veribest girls track and field

Caleb Braden, Wall baseball

Paxton Brake, Wall boys basketball

Jarrett Brown, Reagan County

Lorelei Bryant, Cornerstone girls basketball

Veronica Castro, Central softball

Chasen Doyal, Junction football

Christian “Squeaky” English, Central boys basketball and football

Acelyn Fowler, Irion County girls basketball

Christina Geary, Sterling City girls basketball

Gage Reichenau, Wall baseball

Leevi Knight, Reagan County boys tennis

JP Garza, Ozona baseball

Avery Hansen, Lake View girls soccer

Cameron Hash, Central boys track and field

Briggs Jones, Wall boys track and football

Jaxon Kennedy, Central baseball

Wyatt Killough, Sonora boys basketball

Thomas Leanos, Wall football

Johnny Menefield, Brady football

Colby Mitchell, Cornerstone boys basketball

Mia Obenhaus, Colorado City softball

Jezebel Pasillas, Sonora volleyball

Francisco Ramirez, Lake View football

Brooklenn Reyes, Reagan County softball

Landry Sanderson, Goldthwaite football

Luke Sanderson, Goldthwaite football

Aaron Segura, Sonora football

Casner Stribling, Central baseball

Kaidence Tambunga, Ozona girls basketball

Hunter Tucker, Veribest football

Water Valley girls 400 relay team

Baylor Wright, Coahoma track and field

Landon York, Wall football

Paul Witwer covers high school sports and Angelo State University sports for The San Angelo Standard-Times. Reach him at sports@gosanangelo.com. Follow him on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @Paul_Witwer.