NBA draft: Former Corona Centennial star Jared McCain picked 16th by 76ers

Two years after leading Corona Centennial High to a CIF Open Division state title, Jared McCain is headed to the Philadelphia 76ers after the team selected him 16th overall in the first round of the NBA draft on Wednesday night.

After a standout career at Centennial, where he was named the Gatorade California Player of the Year following his junior and senior seasons, McCain starred for one season at Duke.

McCain averaged 14.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game for the Blue Devils, earning ACC All-Rookie, All-ACC honorable mention recognition and being voted to the Kyle Macy Freshman All-American Team.

McCain, 20, was considered one of the best shooters in the draft and shot 41.4% from 3-point range on 5.8 attempts per game and converted 88.5% of his free throws.

He thrived during March Madness, becoming the first Duke freshman to score 30 or more points twice in a single NCAA Tournament. He hit eight 3-pointers against James Madison on his way to 30 points in a second-round game, then scored 32 points in an Elite Eight loss to North Carolina State.

McCain also shot 8 for 11 from 3-point range while setting a Duke freshman record with 35 points in a 76-67 win at Florida State on Feb. 17. He started all 36 games for a Blue Devils team that fell one win short of reaching the Final Four.

While undersized for a shooting guard, McCain’s nearly 200-pound frame allowed him to battle for rebounds inside and he rapidly became the Blue Devils’ toughest competitor. He grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds in a game against Arkansas.

His biggest strength might be his intangibles. In a pre-draft scouting report by The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, McCain “ticks every single from a character a character perspective.”

“There’s every reason to buy him continuing to grow from this already strong starting point,” Vecenie said.

McCain’s Centennial coach, Josh Giles, told the Southern California News Group that people should be wary of overlooking McCain.

“The one thing I’ve learned about Jared is you better not ever bet against him,” Giles said.

How McCain fits with the 76ers

Philadelphia has its core pieces in All-Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, but shooting remains a need and McCain provides that at a high level.

The 76ers had many established guards on their roster, such as Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton and Kyle Lowry. However, Philadelphia has only two guranteed salaries moving forward: Embiid and Ricky Council IV.

The 76ers are all but certain to re-sign Maxey, but the rest of the roster is unclear after a first-round playoff exit against the New York Knicks.

McCain will have the opportunity to be a contributor right away for a team trying to retool around its stars.