The Oregon Ducks are looking to begin the 2026 recruiting class on the right foot after reeling in the No. 82 class in the country last cycle according to 247Sports.

Oregon basketball coach Dana Altman and the Ducks are inching closer to pulling in one of the highest-rated recruits in recent memory in four-star guard Tay Kinney.

Kinney spoke with On3 about why the Ducks have began to separate themselves from the pack in his recruitment.

“Coach Josh Jamieson, just the way he has been recruiting me. He has been recruiting me since the eighth grade. He was my first high-major offer when he was at Louisville, and he has just been showing that same loyalty since then. I’m visiting them on September 6,” Kinney said. “I’ll cut my list down pretty soon to six. And I will probably commit before the season starts.”

The No. 4 point guard and No. 14 player in the country according to 247Sports rankings, Kinney is being courted by some of the biggest brands in college basketball like Alabama, UConn, and Kentucky.

It’s easy to see why the Ducks stand out as they offer Kinney a chance to make an instant impact as a true freshman with Oregon star guard Jackson Shelstad potentially heading to the NBA next spring. If he commits to Oregon, Kinney would be the No. 5 highest-rated recruit to sign in program history according to 247Sports.

Adam Finkelstein of 247Sports said that Kinney plays bigger than his frame, a trait that should translate to the next level.

“Kinney is a scoring and playmaking lead guard who is smooth and versatile with his attack. He’s a three-range scoring threat who is creative and crisp with his handle. Physically, while he measures in at just over 6-foot-1, he plays much bigger than his size, thanks his long 6-foot-6-plus wingspan, increased muscle mass, and the physicality in his game,” Finkelstein said.

MORE: Oregon Ducks Legend Kenjon Barner Calls Out USC Trojans Fans

MORE: Dallas Cowboys’ Traeshon Holden Biggest Undrafted Free Agent Steal?

MORE: Oregon Ducks Commit Tristan Phillips Reveals Recruitment Update

One of the biggest recurring themes in the Ducks’ recent recruiting classes has been there lack of success in recruiting the cream of the crop. Rated as only a four-star recruit, Kinney could become a five-star prospect by the time he signs.

During the 2025 recruiting cycle, Altman and the Ducks struck out on five-star guard Brayden Burries, who ultimately signed with Arizona. In fact, Oregon only signed one high school prospect in that cycle in three-star guard JJ Frakes.

In 2024, Oregon signed four-star guard Jamari Phillips, who should compete for a solid role in the Ducks’ rotation this upcoming season. The last time Oregon signed a five-star prospect was when they brought in forward Kwame Evans Jr. and Shelstad in the 2023 recruiting cycle.

If Oregon is able to reel in Kinney before the season begins, it would give them momentum and confidence on the recruiting front and could translate to more recruits, something that hasn’t been seen in a few years.

Have you ever had dinner in a jail cell? How about a historic schoolhouse or while fresh rolls are being thrown at you? Well, you can because when it comes to unusual places to grab a bite, it turns out Alabama has plenty of ‘em.

This is Alabama recently asked its Facebook followers what the most unusual place to get a meal in the state is, and it stirred up all kinds of quirky restaurants.

From a gas station that serves noteworthy sushi to a saloon located in a cave to a restaurant that’s slowly spinning 300 feet up in the air and even an eatery where you can have fried deviled eggs in a jail cell, Alabama has some very, very unusual places to grab a meal.

You can check out 10 of ‘em below, and you can see the full list of suggestions on the This is Alabama Facebook page.

Rattlesnake Saloon

1292 Mt. Mills Road in Tuscumbia

When it comes to one-of-a-kind restaurants in Alabama, Rattlesnake Saloon in Tuscumbia was the first to come to mind for a lot of folks, and given that it’s built into the side of a natural rock cave, it’s easy to understand why. Part watering hole, part restaurant, part live music venue — the Rattlesnake Saloon offers a unique experience of enjoying dinner or lunch, which is offered Thursday through Sunday and includes a menu of sandwiches, salads, barbecue, burgers and more, in a setting unlike any other in the state.

Read more: A saloon in a cave? This Alabama restaurant is more than a novelty

Tannehill General Store

22732 Bucksville Road in McCalla

Are gas stations unusual? Not really, but finding some of the best Southern food in the back of one is, and that’s likely why readers were quick to bring up what’s known as the Tannehill General in McCalla. Tannehill General is a Marathon gas station that doubles as a popular meat-and-three-style eatery known for serving a rotating menu of Southern classics like chicken and dressing, hamburger steak, fried catfish and all the sides to go along with ‘em.

Birmingham’s best gas station food

Bama Bucks Wild Game Restaurant and Steakhouse

292 Bryant Road in Boaz

If you’re looking for an unusual eatery where you can get in an unexpected experience while also trying dishes you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere, pay a visit to Bama Bucks Wild Game and Steakhouse Restaurant, open Thursday through Sunday, in Boaz. While there, you can tour the grounds, which have more than 300 animals, including ostriches, black bears, deer and kangaroos. Sit down to a meal of gourmet wild game dishes like Creole-battered gator bites, bison lasagna, elk steak and more.

Read more: Part wild game restaurant, part exotic animal park, Bama Bucks Steakhouse is one of a kind

Main Street Cafe

101 Main Street in Madison

Main Steet Cafe in Madison doesn’t have an unusual name, but it offers diners an unusual experience — the chance to have a meal in a historic jail cell. The cafe, which is open Monday through Saturday, is housed inside Madison’s former city hall, for a dinner setting that’s unlike any other. Plus, with a menu filled with unique dishes like butter crusted chicken pot pie, low country shrimp and grits, fried deviled eggs and more, it’ll be easy to say it was “the best meal you ever had in jail!”

Bayou Fresh Seafood

217 N. Walston Bridge Road in Jasper

Just when you thought a gas station serving up some of the best country cooking in the state was unusual, our readers decided to one-up it by pointing to the Marathon gas station in Jasper that’s home to Bayou Fresh Seafood. Yes, we are suggesting you buy sushi at a no-frills deli attached to a convenience store, and once you try it, you’ll understand why. Not sure what to order from its more than 30 rolls? It’s hard to go wrong when everything is made fresh and to order, but the Super Crunch Roll is a popular pick.

Read more: Six Alabama dishes worth seeking out in June

Reds Little Schoolhouse

20 Gardner Road in Grady

Red’s Little School House in Grady is one of those unique locales that makes a good meal that much better. In business for more than 40 years, it’s open for lunch Wednesday through Sunday and dinner on weekends. Red’s has become known for its made-from-scratch pies, ribeye steaks and hot bar of classic Southern dishes. All of these are served to loyal customers inside a charming building that still very much looks like — from the chalkboards on the walls to the framed historic photos and more — the one-room schoolhouse it once served as.

Read more: Red’s Little Schoolhouse Restaurant teaches diners a thing or two about southern cooking

Roadkill Cafe

25076 State Street in Elberta

The Roadkill Cafe in Elberta likely draws in a lot of first-timers who are simply curious about its head-turning name — not to mention its “you kill it, we grill it” slogan — but its the popular eatery’s weekend lunch buffet of Southern favorites, including some of the best fried chicken in the state, that likely keeps its loyal fanbase coming back. So while the menu might be all that unusual, getting the opportunity to tell people you had lunch at The Roadkill Cafe, and loved it, feels rare enough to garner it a spot on our list.

Read more: 11 small-town Alabama restaurants that serve up big flavor

Lambert’s Cafe

2981 S. McKenzie Street in Foley

While all restaurants serve food, Lambert’s Cafe in Foley has become well-known for also throwing it — at least in regards to its hot and fresh rolls, anyway. In addition to its “throwed rolls,” the popular eatery, which first opened in 1996 and now serves lunch as well as dinner seven days a week, has become an annual stop for many beachgoers headed to the coast thanks to its eclectic menu of home-cooked dishes, including hamburger steak, fried pork chops and chicken pot pie, alongside its lively atmosphere.

Read more: 10 things you might not know about Lambert’s Cafe

360 Grille

10 Hightower Place in Florence

It doesn’t get more unusual than a restaurant, located 300 feet in the air, that is slowly, but steadily, spinning. At the upscale 360 Grille at the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa in Florence, diners can enjoy a one-of-a-kind view of the Tennessee River and the city below while also enjoying steaks, seafood, salads, burgers and more at the state’s only revolving restaurant. Whatever you order, be sure to save room for dessert. That white chocolate cheesecake with peach compote, amaretto whipped cream and chocolate drizzle is a standout too.

Read more: Inside Alabama’s only revolving restaurant: Come for the view, stay for the $36 burger

The Hatter Cafe

4277 Alabama Highway 117 in Mentone

Who doesn’t love a restaurant with a theme? At The Hatter Cafe, you can have everything from a cup of tea to a full-scale meal, all while easily envisioning yourself in Wonderland thanks to the eatery’s charming and relaxed atmosphere. Open Thursday through Monday for breakfast and lunch, The Hatter Cafe offers diners an assortment of eclectic eats — ranging from heart-shaped biscuits to waffle sandwiches, cheddar grit cakes and more — almost as unique as the decor, making it a fun experience for everyone.

Read more: You can have a tea party in this Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurant

This is a guest opinion column

We’re done with the days of Alabama being overlooked in discussions of national economic vitality.

It’s taken decades of regional cooperation, ingenuity and soft diplomacy, but a new era has emerged across the state as more and more industries are planting their flag in Alabama’s rich red soil.

We’re all aware of the stereotypes about our state. There’s nothing we haven’t heard. But now Alabama has carved out a role on the national stage when it comes to job growth, people relocating here, and major economic development projects.

One of the most crucial facets of this growth falls under the purview of the Alabama Public Service Commission, a lean, quasi-executive body with quiet authority. Its three elected commissioners are tasked with the monthly tightrope act of striking the right balance of financial viability for massive utilities and the affordability for everyday citizens. It’s a tough job.

I’d like to publicly commend Governor Kay Ivey’s recent appointment of Cynthia Lee Almond to serve as president of the APSC following the departure of Twinkle Cavanaugh, who took a role in the Trump Administration overseeing Rural Development in Alabama for the USDA.

I believe this is the most important appointment that our current governor has made during her time in Montgomery. Having competent and experienced leadership serving in these positions is the only way we can continue to move the needle in the right direction when it comes to recruiting industries and job growth. The monthly decisions made by the APSC ultimately shape the very future of Alabama’s economic and domestic landscape whether people are aware of that or not.

Commissioner Almond has a respectable track record as both a member of the Alabama House of Representatives and as a practicing attorney. It’s critical for Alabama’s continued success that the APSC be comprised of public servants who are focused on protecting the interests of our residents while also helping to secure major development projects – not individuals focused on ideological culture wars, or without a background in finance or economic development.

For heavy industries, energy costs can be a top-tier expenditure, sometimes second only to labor. A small difference in kilowatt-hour rates can translate to millions of dollars in savings or additional costs annually.

Data centers, which are popping up all over the country in recent years, are massive energy consumers. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that data centers consumed roughly 4.4 percent of the total U.S. electricity in 2023, and this number is projected to grow. With the proliferation of AI, some estimates have that number being as high as 12 percent by 2030. For these facilities, access to cheap and reliable power is non-negotiable when looking for new locations.

In Birmingham, we’ve positioned ourselves as a technology and research hub in the Southeast, both of which require massive amounts of power to operate. Same goes for our hospital systems, which are globally recognized and provide more jobs than any other employer in the state.

The information industry has also showed impressive growth here, with its GDP having grown 180 percent in the last decade. In 2024, economic development efforts secured $7 billion in new capital investment across 224 projects, generating more than 8,500 new career opportunities for Alabamians. All of this growth is inextricably tied to the decisions made by the APSC leadership.

And while this body is often operating outside the political spotlight, the APSC wields a huge amount of influence over the fundamental services that underpin modern life — electricity, natural gas, and water. These are not just commodities. They are the lifelines for every single resident and business in Alabama.

Without quality leadership and buy-in from every member of the APSC, the promise of Alabama’s future—its burgeoning industries, its thriving communities, and the well-being of our families—will continue to lag behind other states. Without mincing words, we cannot afford to build on a foundation that’s too weak to bear the weight of our lofty ambitions for Alabama’s future as a leader in economic development and quality of life for our residents.

Hunter Williams represents District 2 on the Birmingham City Council.