Top-3 prospect Brandon McCoy Jr. discusses return to Arizona Unity, updates recruitment
By SAM LANCE
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC — Class of 2026 five-star guard Brandon McCoy Jr. has made his return to the Arizona Unity EYBL program, and he’s making an impact in a big way.
McCoy, the 6-foot-4 guard from Los Angeles, has helped Arizona Unity to a 3-1 record at Session 4, allowing his squad to walk into Peach Jam with some momentum. In the four games, he’s averaged 17.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.8 blocks, reasserting himself as one of the best players in the country.
“It’s great to be back man,” McCoy said. “I missed it for sure. I just had a talk with my parents and it just felt like it was right to come back. So we made the trip happen, and I’m happy I’m here.”
Before heading to Peach Jam, McCoy was one of four class of 2026 prospects to participate with Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland. There, he was a solid role player off the bench and seemed to throw down an emphatic dunk in every game.
“It was a great experience,” McCoy said. “Playing for my country is a blessing. To do that three times is insane…. Just winning is fun. It doesn’t get much better than winning, getting gold.”
Because of all the basketball action, McCoy said he hasn’t been home in over a month. Therefore, he’s going to wait until he gets back to Los Angeles to think about his recruitment.
“Once I settle in I’m going to start planning some things out, like planning visits, when I’m going to commit,” McCoy said. “All things like that will come after I get back home.”
McCoy has been on three college campuses so far in the process: Duke for an official visit in November 2024 and UCLA and USC the summer after his freshman year. The guard said Duke was a great first official visit, and he definitely plans on taking more officials after the summer settles down.
The five-star has offers from 20+ programs and is a top priority for several big brands.
“I feel like all of the coaches that have reached out to me have showed me great love,” McCoy said. “Nobody is over anybody right now, everybody is just even right now.”
McCoy provided an update on some of the schools reaching out:
Alabama: “I like their play style: play fast, shoot threes, get to the basket. I’ve worked out with Labaron [Philon] and he told me great things about coach [Nate] Oats. I actually met coach at USA and he was a cool guy, so I’m going to keep talking to them as well.”
Arizona: “I’ve talked to a couple assistants there. They’ve been recruiting me since my sophomore year, so it’s been a building relationship. We’ll see where that goes.”
Kansas: “Coach Bill Self, I haven’t talked to him personally, but coach [Kurtis] Townsend. They win. Coach Self is a solidified coach and been a coach there for a long time. So we know what we’re going to get out of him. I wouldn’t be surprised if I went there. I feel like I know I would get better if I went there.”
Kentucky: “Mark Pope coached me most of the time at USA. I’ve talked to him before, but literally getting coached by college coaches is insane. But taking in everything he was telling me and talking to him as well.”
Michigan: “I’ve heard great things about Dusty May. I’ve also worked out with Danny Wolf and he preached to me the whole summer about how good Dusty May is. So definitely looking at that school too.”
USC: “I live right next to USC, so that’s obviously a big part of it. And then just play style. I know Muss is an NBA coach — I mean, he had a draft where he had three players go first round. So seeing stuff like that, he’s preaching stuff like that. So I mean, they’ll definitely be in consideration when I commit.”
Other programs heavily involved with McCoy include but aren’t limited to Arkansas, Baylor and UCLA. On Sunday, Duke was deep with three assistants courtside and assistants from Arizona, Alabama, Kentucky, USC, among several others, were courtside to watch McCoy play. McCoy said right now it could go either way for him as far as an early or late commitment.
On the court, McCoy won’t be satisfied with anything less than a Peach Jam crown next weekend.
“This is my fourth year of EYBL,” McCoy said. “I’ve gotten to the Final Four, the Elite Eight. This time, I’m trying to take it all the way and win a championship for sure.”
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