McCoy back in the home he left
Brandon McCoy, a 6- 11 McDonald’s All- American, started out in K- Town on the West Side, attended Frazier International Elementary School and was all set to attend Fenwick for high school, but then hismother decided it would be best to leave Chicago.
McCoy moved to San Diego and attended Cathedral Catholic, where he averaged 29 points, 13 rebounds and five assists per game this past season. There isn’t a local representative in this year’s McDonald’s All- American game, so McCoy drew a crowd at Tuesday’s media day. It didn’t take him long to give an example of why he had to leave Chicago.
“Ed Brown,” he said. “He was one of my biggest role models growing up. It was just crazy to see someone doing so well have his life taken away.”
Brown, 25, a promising boxer, was shot and killed near Kedzie and Warren in early December last year. Hewas 20- 0with 16 knockouts in his short career.
McCoy was a boxer himself, starting in fourth grade, but gave it up when he moved to California.
“When he got killed, it touched me deeply. That was like a big brother tome,” McCoy said. “I have to [ succeed] for him and all the other ones that won’t get this chance.”
McCoy says he wasn’t on track to be a McDonald’s All- American when he left Chicago. He was just 6 feet tall.
“It was a long process,” he said. “Blood, sweat and tears. I worked really hard. It was just a better life [ in California].”
McCoy attended the prestigious all- star game before he moved away, but he never imagined he’d return to Chicago to play in it.
“I’m just thankful,” he said. “Some people playing expected to be here. I didn’t approach it like that. To be in the game is just awesome.”
McCoy is on the West Team with the star attraction, Michael Porter Jr., a 6- 10 small forward who’s ESPN’s top- ranked player in the country. Porter averaged 38 points, 15 rebounds and five assists this season at Nathan Hale in Seattle. He originally signed with Washington but received his release last week. He’s now committed to Missouri and new coach Cuonzo Martin.
Porter is originally from Missouri, where he spent his first three years of high school. And Martin has hired Porter’s father, Michael Sr., as an assistant coach.
Another possible future star to keep an eye on during Wednesday’s game is 7- 0 center Deandre Ayton. He’s Scout. com’s top- ranked player in the 2017 class. The only player signed with a Big Ten school is Jaron Jackson Jr., a Michigan State recruit.