Growing up, Jared McCain would play one-on-one with his brother, Jayce. Their bond continued at Duke where Jared starred under Jon Scheyer and Jayce served as a graduate assistant coach.
As Jared went through the pre-NBA Draft process, he kept his brother on his mind. In fact, he told ESPN’s Monica McNutt he wanted to hear his name called with Jayce in mind.
That became reality Wednesday night when the Philadelphia 76ers selected him with the No. 16 overall pick. After Adam Silver made the announcement, the two spoke with McNutt, and Jared was still trying to process the moment.
“There’s no words to describe it,” McCain said, with his brother by his side, after the commissioner called his name. “I’m so grateful for this opportunity. I have no words.”
Jayce McCain played college basketball at Cal State San Marcos, but injuries got in the way of his career. After he graduated, he decided to go into coaching, and that took him to Durham to be with Jared as he put together a standout season with Duke.
To be by his brother’s side during his journey to a first-round selection, Jayce said it was a special moment to be at Barclays Center with him. Now, Jared is heading to the NBA.
“It means everything for me, man,” Jayce said. “He worked so damn hard for this. I’m just blessed to be a part of this journey. It’s such a big part of my purpose as a person. It’s everything to me.”
Jared McCain: 76ers getting ‘a hard worker’
Jared McCain averaged 14.3 points per game this past season, helping Duke to an Elite Eight appearance. He ranked second on the team in scoring while shooting 41.4% from three-point territory, and third in rebounding with 5.0 per game. Those numbers earned him a spot on the ACC All-Freshman Team.
Now, he’s heading to Philadelphia to play for a 76ers team that expects to contend in the Eastern Conference next year. McCain is ready to hit the ground running to help the franchise to its end goal of a championship.
“Just somebody who wants to achieve any goal he sets out to,” McCain said when asked what Philadelphia is getting. “A hard worker. I’m gonna do anything I can to bring home a championship, to bring home just wins, in general. I’m so happy to be here, man.”
Barkley Truax contributed to this report.
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