Brandon McCoy Jr., five-star guard, will stick with Michigan basketball

DETROIT - Add the top incoming freshman to the growing list of players who will remain at Michigan after Dusty May's jump to the NBA.

Brandon McCoy Jr., a five-star guard and McDonald's All-American, will stick with the Wolverines for the upcoming season despite the coaching change.

ESPN first reported the news on Saturday, which was shared by a Michigan assistant coach on social media.

It's another major coup for interim head coach Mike Boynton Jr. and the rest of the staff, as the Wolverines continue to retain their biggest pieces on what's viewed to be a top-10 roster for 2026-27.

McCoy (6-foot-5, 190 pounds) is rated the No. 10 overall prospect in the nation, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, and his name has already popped up as a potential first-round pick in 2027 NBA mock drafts.

McCoy committed to the Wolverines during halftime of Michigan's Final Four win over Arizona on the Fab Five altcast broadcast, becoming the final piece of a top-five recruiting class.

"He almost feels like a portal edition, just given his talent, his ability to impact right away, and the timing of his commitment," assistant coach and general manager Kyle Church said on the program's "Defend the Block" podcast in May.

"Brandon is super long, rangy, athletic. He's exactly what your build or create a (NBA) 2K guard should look like."

During an offseason availability in April, May - who left to become the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks on June 22 - said he expected McCoy to play multiple positions and to have success "all over the court."

McCoy is pegged as a projected starter in Michigan's lineup next season, alongside guards Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney, who both announced last week they weren't planning on going elsewhere.

"Brandon is a special talent and someone who has the ability to impact the game in so many ways," May said in a statement when McCoy signed with the program in April.

"He has a special feel for the game and competitiveness that really stands out. He can score at all three levels, create for others, and make winning plays on both ends of the floor. What stands out most is his approach to the game and his desire to keep getting better."

McCoy is the ninth player on the roster whose reaffirmed commitment to the program has been reported, along with transfers J.P Estrella, Moustapha Thiam and Jalen Reed; fellow freshmen Lincoln Cosby, Joseph Hartman and Malachi Brown; and returners Cadeau and McKenney.

Due to the coaching change, the transfer portal is set to open July 24 for Michigan's players for 15 days. Should a permanent coach be named or Boynton's interim tag be removed before then, the portal would open five days after that happens.

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This story was originally published July 4, 2026 at 1:57 PM.