McCoy makes the call

Three-star prospect Paul McCoy became one of the hottest point guard commodities in the country after being released from his Letter of Intent with Pepperdine, and now McCoy has found another college destination.

Down to Kentucky, SMU and Virginia, McCoy, 5-foot-11, 175-pounds out of Portland (Ore.) Grant High School, shunned the two power conference schools and will play his basketball for SMU in Conference USA.

"Paul prioritized three areas that were important for him," said McCoy's trainer Howard Avery. "First, he wanted to play at a place that really wanted him. All three schools fit this criteria. Second, he wanted to play at a place that had a need for him. And third, he wanted to have to chance to make a big impact. Number two and three sort of go hand in hand, and it was these two things that separated SMU. There is just a bigger need for him at SMU and a greater chance for him to make an impact."

Although McCoy is not certain whether or not he will play football in college, there is an interesting connection between McCoy and the football program at SMU.

"Coach June Jones is a former Grant alumnus," said Avery. "This was just one of several interesting sub plots that helped lead Paul to SMU."

McCoy, who averaged 19 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals per game, led Grant to a state championship this season.