2026 No. 1 prospect Brandon McCoy earns Kentucky offer

Mark Pope has offered arguably the best two-way prospect in high school basketball and the No. 1 overall recruit in 2026, Brandon McCoy Jr.

Following a standout Peach Jam that saw the 6-5 guard average 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, McCoy announced an offer from Kentucky on Saturday.

“Grateful to receive an offer from the University of Kentucky,” he wrote on social media. “Thank you Coach Pope!”

Grateful to receive an offer from the University of Kentucky 💙🤍 Thank you Coach Pope! pic.twitter.com/YuSiKMhtC3

— Brandon McCoy Jr. (@g0beezy) July 27, 2024

Coach Pope and his assistants were courtside for the five-star guard’s games at Peach Jam and throughout the EYBL regular season, checking in during every live period stop. Playing up at the 17U level with Arizona Unity, the Kentucky staff saw more than enough to pull the trigger on an offer to wrap up the summer.

“It was a great summer. I had a good summer last year, so to top that, it means a lot,” he told KSR. “I got a gold medal (with USA Basketball), now I’m excited for the high school season. I showed that I play hard and make the right play. I think I do those two things pretty well. I’m going to keep working on staying consistent and my shooting, playmaking.”

McCoy leads an elite 2026 class that also includes the likes of Tyran Stokes, Caleb Holt, Jason Crowe and Miikka Muurinen, among others. That’s following an all-time class of 2025 headlined by AJ Dybantsa and Cam Boozer.

What does it mean to be included in this historic run of talent, potentially No. 1 by the time things wrap up going into college?

“We’ve got a lot of good players and a lot of good talent. It’s two really good classes,” he added. “It means a lot because this group will probably go down in history. The fact that I’m a part of that means a lot. Rankings aren’t everything — it’d be great and a blessing to be No. 1, for sure, but I don’t think what my ranking is in high school will get me to the next level and push me to my final goals.”

As for his recruitment and Kentucky specifically, Pope and Hart have made an early impression.

“I definitely like the staff, Coach Pope and Coach Hart. I’m definitely looking forward to building that relationship,” he told KSR, his father adding that they are in the process of scheduling a visit to Lexington this fall.

What is he looking for in a program when it comes time to make a decision down the road?

“A school with a family atmosphere who wins and plays hard with a really good coaching staff,” McCoy said.

Pope is pushing for Kentucky to be that school, now extending a scholarship offer to back that interest up.