Michigan five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. will miss the 2026-27 season with a right ACL injury, the school announced on Tuesday.
McCoy suffered the injury last week during the Wolverines' exhibition win over Mega Superbet in Europe. Just 20 seconds into the game, McCoy slipped while driving to the basket and couldn't put any weight on his right leg.
The 6-foot-4 McCoy was expected to be a potential starter for Mike Boynton Jr. as Michigan looked to defend its national championship. McCoy committed to the Wolverines on the night of the Final Four during the Fab Five's alternate telecast.
Ranked No. 19 in the SC Next 100 for the class of 2026, McCoy was named a McDonald's All American and also scored 20 points in the Jordan Brand Classic. He averaged 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in Michigan's first two games of its European tour before suffering the injury in the third game.
Without McCoy, expect Boynton to scour the fifth-year senior market for potential replacements. Michigan already received a commitment from Columbia transfer Kenny Noland, while Roddy Gayle Jr., a key reserve on last season's team, has also explored a return to college. Neither player is currently eligible, although Gayle filed a lawsuit in the state of New York on Monday requesting an additional year of eligibility.
McCoy's injury is the latest development in a tumultuous offseason for Michigan, just months after winning the program's second national championship. In late June, head coach Dusty May left the Wolverines to take over the Dallas Mavericks, becoming the first coach since Kansas' Larry Brown in 1988 to leave college immediately after winning a national title.
Boynton, who had been an assistant coach and defensive coordinator under May since 2024, was promoted to the top job in July, agreeing to a two-year deal.
