Rashad McCants

High school career

McCants began his high school career at Clyde A. Erwin High School in Asheville, North Carolina, but finished at New Hampton School in New Hampton, New Hampshire. He led New Hampton to the 2002 New England Prep School Class A championship and was named MVP of the title game. McCants played alongside future college teammate Wes Miller during his senior season.

McCants was an honor roll student at New Hampton. He also won the New Hampshire Player of the Year Award in 2001 and 2002. And, as a senior, he was also named to the Parade All-American and McDonald's All-American Teams. He played in the McDonald's All-American Game with future Tar Heel teammates Raymond Felton and Sean May.

Collegiate career

Alongside Sean May, Raymond Felton, and David Noel, McCants joined a stellar recruiting class at UNC for the 2002–2003 season, coached by Matt Doherty. In his freshman year, McCants led the Tar Heels in scoring with 17.5 points per game, and led them to a third round loss to Georgetown in the National Invitational Tournament. He was voted to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) rookie team.

In the 2003–2004 season, McCants led the ACC in scoring with 20 points per game. With that effort, McCants helped lead UNC back into the NCAA Tournament with a sixth ranking, where they would lose in the second round to number three ranked Texas. He was the leading vote-getter on the All-ACC First Team as a sophomore, and was named a Second Team All-American.

With freshman Marvin Williams joining the squad for the 2004–2005, the junior class led by preseason Wooden Award candidates in McCants, May, and Felton gave UNC a high ranking in all preseason polls and the team was seen as one of the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament. After going 33–4 and winning the ACC regular season, McCants' 16.4 points per game helped secure UNC one of the four number one seeds in the NCAA Tournament. UNC cruised to the championship game, where McCants helped the Tar Heels defeat the Illinois Fighting Illini 75–70.

McCants' three years at Chapel Hill were not without controversy. In an interview with local television station WRAL, McCants compared UNC to a prison, stating, "You're not allowed to say certain things, but once you get out of jail, you're free. (I'm) in my sentence, and I'm doing my time."

McCants scored 1721 points in his career at North Carolina and made 221 career three-point field goals.

Accusations against North Carolina

On June 6, 2014, the ESPN program Outside the Lines broadcast an interview with McCants in which McCants claimed to have taken phony classes at North Carolina and had tutors write his classwork. The accusations by McCants followed reports by university administration and former governor Jim Martin finding academic and ethical issues with the university's Department of African and Afro-American Studies, including classes with little work assigned. However, all sixteen other members of the 2005 team released a statement that disputed McCants's account. Additionally, coach Roy Williams, separately interviewed by the same program, disputed McCants's claims.

Interviewed again on Outside the Lines on June 11, McCants stood by his claims about his academic experience at North Carolina. He also called on his fellow members of the 2004–05 basketball team to release their university transcripts because, in his opinion, "the truth is there in the transcripts" regarding bogus classes.

University officials contacted McCants via mail and text message in the days following the first Outside the Lines interview, because McCants expressed "knowledge of potential NCAA rule violations involving the University of North Carolina," according to a letter signed by the athletics director of compliance. However, McCants had not responded as of July 7, nor had he discussed his claims with the NCAA, according to the Associated Press.

Professional career

After winning the championship, McCants declared his eligibility for the 2005 NBA Draft, and was selected 14th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. His college teammates, Marvin Williams, Raymond Felton, and Sean May were also selected in the draft. During his first two years as a pro, McCants was bothered by injuries and did not play up to the expectations of fans. He had a lot of expectations going into the 2007–08 season, and on a young Timberwolves squad, he started the season as a rotation regular, and broke into the starting lineup halfway through the season.

As of January 2008, Rashad had posted career-highs through his third season, with 34 points against the Denver Nuggets on January 4, 2008, 8 rebounds against the Miami Heat on January 8, 4 steals against the Seattle SuperSonics on December 29, 2007, and getting 6 assists five times. On December 26, 2008, he hit a career-high 7 three-pointers in a Wolves win over the New York Knicks.

On February 19, 2009, McCants was sent to the Sacramento Kings along with Calvin Booth for Shelden Williams and Bobby Brown. McCants then signed with the Houston Rockets in September 2009, but had his contract retracted on the second day of the training camp. The Rockets General Manager said McCants presented with an abdomen problem and would not be able to participate in the camp, though he also said he would still consider McCants down the track once healthy.

In the summer of 2010, he was scheduled to join the Cleveland Cavaliers' NBA Summer League team. However, he did not report to the team for personal reasons.

In October 2010 the Dallas Mavericks signed McCants to their training camp roster. However, he was released only after a few days. He was then signed by the Mavericks' NBA Development League associate, the Texas Legends.

In 2012, the Powerade Tigers of the Philippine Basketball Association acquired him as their import for the Governors Cup. However, despite playing his usual game, he was not able to help the Tigers win their first two games and was released afterwards.

On July 13, 2012, McCants signed with the French club Strasbourg IG. On August 24, 2012, he parted ways with Strasbourg before appearing in a game for them. On November 19, 2012, he signed with the Foshan Long Lions of China. On January 10, 2013, he was waived by the Foshan.

On January 24, 2013, McCants was acquired by the Texas Legends. He was waived by the Legends in February 2013. On November 2013, he was announced by the Brazilian club Uberlândia Tênis Clube for 2013–14 NBB season. He debuted on January 5, 2014 against São José Basketball.

On November 23, 2014, McCants signed with Homenetmen Beirut of the Lebanese Basketball League. In April 2015, he signed with Trotamundos de Carabobo of Venezuela for the rest of the 2015 LPB season.

BIG3

On April 30, 2017, McCants was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 BIG3 Draft by Trilogy (basketball). On August 26, 2017, Trilogy won the first-ever Big3 League Championship. McCants had 22 points on 55% shooting and was named Championship MVP.

Personal life

McCants' sister, Rashanda McCants, played in the WNBA.

Rashad is the cousin of Major League Baseball player Cameron Maybin and third cousin of former Canadian Football League player John Avery.

Awards