Making The Case: Taylen Kinney (RWE) for OTE MVP?

Taylen Kinney is up for the OTE MVP award which is set to be announced in February

Caleb Sisk | Feb 15, 2025

Taylen Kinney in his RWE jersey / Taylen Kinney Instagram

The OTE Awards are approaching, and fans have the power to decide the winners of three major honors, along with selecting the All-OTE Team.

The three awards up for grabs include:

Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Defensive Player of the Year
Most Underrated Player of the Season

The MVP award is the most prestigious, recognizing the league’s top player as determined by fan votes. This year’s race is among the closest in recent history, with several strong candidates in contention.

OTE MVP Finalists

Eli Ellis (YNG Dreamerz)
Meleek Thomas (City Reapers)
Jasper Johnson (RWE)
Shon Abaev (Fear of God Athletics)
Kaden Magwood (Blue Checks)
Taylen Kinney (RWE)

While many consider Ellis and Thomas to be the frontrunners, Taylen Kinney is the dark horse in this race. His recent surge in social media popularity, particularly for the "SIX-SEVEN" trend, could significantly boost his share of the fan vote.

Taylen Kinney’s Impact on RWE

Kinney is not just a social media sensation—he has been a dominant force on the court. The Newport, Kentucky native is averaging:

20.3 points
4.8 assists
3.9 rebounds
2.4 steals
Shooting 56/33/74 from the field

Kinney has been the leader of a fast-rising RWE squad, serving as their primary floor general. His presence on the court is undeniable, elevating his team with his leadership and high-level playmaking. He has also helped highlight teammate Jasper Johnson, another MVP contender.

Known for his electrifying ball-handling and showstopping plays, Kinney has cemented himself as one of the most exciting players in OTE and the Class of 2026. Ranked inside the top 20 nationally, he has the ability to play for any major program and is a projected future NBA prospect.

As the OTE Awards voting continues, Kinney is a legitimate MVP contender, and if he wins, it will be well deserved.

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Published Feb 15, 2025

CALEB SISK

Caleb Sisk has been a sportswriter in the Dalton, Georgia area since 2023. He started as a graphic designer with his own company that was and is run through social media. Sisk grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and has experience traveling back to his hometown and all throughout the state of Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina to cover high school sports. He has written for many On SI sites and has worked with Rivals in the past. He also expresses the enjoyment of writing about multiple sports and topics, although his first love for writing has always been recruiting. He began contributing to High School On SI in 2025.