Brandon McCoy remains on top of the 2026 On3 150 rankings

On Monday, On3 updated its 2026 rankings for the first update of a full list of 150 names. For the update, Brandon McCoy repeated in the top spot for the third time. McCoy is a 6-foot-5 guard from Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco.

McCoy joins No. 2 ranked Tyran Stokes of Los Angeles (CA) Notre Dame High as the only two players carrying 99 overall ratings. No. 3 ranked Alijah Arenas and No. 4 ranked Caleb Holt join Stokes and McCoy as the four five-star rated players in this 2026 On3 150 update.

The Full 2026 On3 150 Basketball Update

While there are four five-star rated players in this update, at this point in the cycle, McCoy and Stokes have separated themselves at the top of the class. The conversation for the top spot was a lengthy one. Both players played up in grade on Nike’s EYBL Circuit and both players won a gold medal this summer with the USA Basketball U17 team.

Both players also showed development in their games, along with translatable skills that are valued in today’s game. They both also showed necessary room for improvement. Namely, McCoy with his shooting and Stokes with his consistency. Oftentimes, a player’s shooting is imperative for me to project them in today’s game. With that said, McCoy’s consistent ability to create an advantage for his team at the point of attack was simply too hard to ignore.

Read the Storylines from the 2026 On3 150 Ranking Update

Let’s dive into what kept Brandon McCoy as the No. 1 ranked prospect for the 2026 recruiting cycle.

McCoy’s production, and two-way impact, at the highest levels

Brandon McCoy was the youngest starter for the USA Basketball team in this summer’s U17 World Cup. This was the guard’s second FIBA gold medal in as many years, but the first where he was a starter. Through the seven games, McCoy averaged 10.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. He also shot 64.0 percent from the field.

Where McCoy found his most value during the games is on the defensive end. In his 16.6 minutes per game played, he averaged 3.4 steals per game. This total was second overall in the entire competition. Even while McCoy’s shooting numbers (20.0% 3P) were below average, he was able to constantly apply pressure at the point of attack.

McCoy picked up for 94 feet every possession he was in for the United States team. His defense created discomfort for opposing ball handlers, leading to counting steals, deflections, or cutting angles and allowing teammates to gain a defensive advantage. McCoy’s long arms and twitchy athleticism mixed very well with his “want to” on the defensive end of the floor to create a lot of opportunities for himself and his teammates on the offensive end.

McCoy showed through Nike’s Peach Jam that he was comfortable creating with the ball in his hands as well. Sharing a roster with seven other players rated as industry four-star prospects, McCoy averaged 17.3 points. While the shooting (20.0% 3P) still needs to improve, McCoy showed that he is able to create an advantage with the ball in his hands and generate advantageous opportunities for his team.

McCoy averaged 17.3 points while finishing 71.1 percent of his shots at the rim which accounted for 47.3 percent of his shot attempts. Playing up on the 17U level, McCoy finished the event with a 47.7 true shooting percentage and scored 0.95 points per possession. Again, those numbers can be tightened, but the analytics remain in the upper tier – with volume – among his peers.

McCoy also averaged 4.0 assists per contest throughout Peach Jam. While the jump shot does need tightening, and that advancement WILL need to be shown as he continues forward, it is hard to not appreciate the overall impact that McCoy has on a game each time he steps on the floor. While still having room for growth, his ability to affect the play at the most crucial part of the court (the point of attack) makes for a heavy in-game impact.

Projection Brandon McCoy looking forward

Brandon McCoy carries a lengthy frame, as he is listed at 6-foot-5 with a plus wing span. He also is a twitchy athlete, showing both burst and the lateral ability to quickly change direction. McCoy has spent a lot of the past year trying to figure out what he is positionally, whether he can play point guard or if he has to be off the ball.

What McCoy has consistently gone out and shown is that he has a constant impact on the court at the point of attack. I know this sounds like a broken record with the point of attack talk, but it is truly a unique gift among his peers at this point in his recruiting cycle. McCoy has made plays for himself and he has made plays for others through multiple settings. As the second-youngest player and the youngest starter, on the USA Basketball U17 team, he carved his role as a defensive stopper. In that role, he was the best perimeter defender in the entire event, finishing second overall in steals per game, playing 10 minutes per game less than the player who led the way.

Offensively, he has shown a slippery handle that has allowed him to constantly put two feet in the paint and collapse a defense. Not only has McCoy shot a high percentage at the rim, but he has also shown he can spray the ball to open teammates to get open shots. While McCoy has developed his reads and pace in the half-court, his ability to quickly turn defense into offense, and make a play for his team has shone over the past twelve months.

Over the past few NBA Drafts, we have seen teams place value on players who are not traditionally point guards or two guards but are able to put constant pressure at the point of attack. Players like Stephon Castle, Devin Carter, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Suggs, and Davion Mitchell are all players taken in the NBA Draft Lottery over the past four NBA Drafts who fit in this mold.

When you add in the length, twitchy athleticism, and positional size that McCoy already possesses, there is a clear pathway toward a coveted archetype at the highest levels of basketball. With that, he is going to need to continue showing improvement with the jump shot and tightening up his reads, but the production continues to pile up as he competes among his peers.