By Darnell Hayes | Published June 2025
Don’t Call It a Comeback — Call It a Reset
Brandon McCoy Jr. was supposed to sit the AAU season out. That was the plan — focus on development, rest, and the USA Basketball pipeline. But then came Peach Jam. The five-star guard out of California showed up unannounced in South Carolina, laced up for Arizona Unity, and reminded the world exactly who he is.
What was supposed to be a quiet summer turned into a statement.
In his return, McCoy dropped 21 points against top-5 rival Christian Collins in a gym packed with blue-blood head coaches. Duke, Arizona, Kentucky, and nearly a dozen others were courtside, recalibrating their recruiting boards as McCoy ran the floor with confidence and purpose.
After months of silence, the message was loud and clear: Brandon McCoy Jr. is back.
Rust, Redemption, and Rising Again
McCoy didn’t ease back in. His first major basketball outing in months was USA Basketball training camp — and by most accounts, he looked rusty. Evaluators questioned his readiness. Minutes were scarce. Some wondered if the guard had lost a step.
But Peach Jam told a different story.
“The spring was quiet for him,” said one high-major assistant coach. “But he reminded people why he’s one of the best guards in the class.”
In a high-stakes environment full of scouts and skeptics, McCoy elevated — not just with his stat line, but with his presence. He showed command, poise, and the type of control you want in a lead guard. His return didn’t just restore momentum. It reasserted his place in the conversation.
A Recruitment Heating Up
Despite being one of the most coveted prospects in the nation, McCoy has remained tight-lipped about his recruitment. But the signs are clear.
Duke’s Jon Scheyer and two assistants were seen at multiple AZ Unity games. Arizona, Louisville, Houston, Alabama, Arkansas, Michigan State, and North Carolina are also actively in the mix. Sources say he’s taken visits, including a notable one to Duke, but McCoy isn’t tipping his hand.
What’s certain is this: With his summer performance, the suitors are only multiplying.
What Makes Him Different
At 6’4″, McCoy is a true lead guard — a floor general with pace, creativity, and an evolving jumper. He plays with an economy of motion, never rushed, always reading. His change of speed, ability to control tempo, and high IQ decision-making separate him from his peers.
But it’s also the intangibles: the quiet leadership, the bounce-back resilience, the refusal to overreact to hype or criticism. He took the time he needed, got back to himself, and chose his return moment wisely.
That’s maturity — and that’s why programs are betting big on his upside.
FINAL BUZZER
Brandon McCoy Jr. didn’t just return to the court — he reshaped the narrative. In an era where every moment is overanalyzed, his path this summer felt refreshing: quiet work, calculated timing, and high-level production.
The top guard conversation is wide open. And McCoy just walked back into the room with the mic.
