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NCAA Basketball Recruiting: 5 early teams in the mix for No. 1 class of 2026 G Brandon McCoy

By Tristan Freeman

St. John Bosco's (Calif.) Brandon McCoy Jr. dunks the ball as the Braves take on the Central Bulldogs during the 39th Annual Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions at Great Southern Bank Arena on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024.
St. John Bosco's (Calif.) Brandon McCoy Jr. dunks the ball as the Braves take on the Central Bulldogs during the 39th Annual Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions at Great Southern Bank Arena on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. / Nathan Papes/Springfield News-Leader /
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A couple of days ago, I did an article on Tyran Stokes, who has emerged as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2026 NCAA Basketball recruiting class per several recruiting services. He took over the spot from Brandon McCoy, who originally had the top spot.

That doesn't mean that the stock for McCoy has fallen, as he's still the clear No. 1 perimeter player in the class. He's a 6'4 point guard out of the state of California, He's been a standout performer on the AAU Circuit, showcasing his lead guard abilities as a natural scorer, capable of shooting at a high level, as well as getting to the basket.

McCoy can defend, pass, and has the natural tools to be a future star at both the NCAA Basketball and NBA levels. Now that the class of 2026 prospects can get into contact with coaches, look for his specific recruitment to kick into high gear. According to Rob Cassidy of "Rivals", five teams have stood out to the prospect so far in terms of their interest.

This won't be the final list but each of those programs have their own selling points to make for McCoy. Here's a closer look at how he'd fit with them in the future.

Baylor Bears

With Coach Scott Drew set to stay (for now), Baylor will remain in the mix for top-tier prospects. They've been sending each of their last 5-star recruits directly to the NBA, including both JaKobe Walter and Yves Missi this past season.

Guards Jeremy Roach and Jayden Nunn will be gone after next season, leaving top-40 incoming freshman, Robert Wright. It would be the perfect time to land someone like McCoy for even the 2025 class and allow him to be the next lead guard. And as we've seen, Coach Drew is more than willing to allow a stud freshman be the go-to guy on offense.

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