Brandon McCoy thinks he’s the best center in the draft, plays five instruments and doesn’t think Pusha T went too far

Brandon McCoy isn’t one to lack confidence or hesitate to give his honest opinion. That’s no surprise considering the 7-foot center declared for the draft and quickly signed with an agent after just one season at UNLV.

“I’m the best center in this draft, honestly,” he proclaimed after working out for the Nuggets on Monday morning. “I played against arguably the best center in this draft, and I felt like I held my own. You can put me against anybody and I’m going to make sure you know who I am.”

McCoy, who’s a projected second-round pick, was referring to a matchup against the University of Arizona last season when he went for a season-high 33 points and 10 rebounds against presumptive No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton. UNLV fell to Arizona in overtime, but McCoy went toe-to-toe with Ayton, who finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds.

That wasn’t McCoy’s first run-in with Ayton either. Both big men played high school ball in San Diego (Ayton transferred to the prestigious Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix after his sophomore season), and the two were also named McDonald’s All-Americans following their senior seasons.

“When the lights come on, I can show out,” McCoy said.

The 20-year-old averaged 16.9 points and 10.3 rebounds last season for the Running Rebels. He shot roughly 55 percent from the field but wasn’t much of a threat from outside the paint, which is partly why he’s ranked behind the consensus top-three centers in the draft: Ayton, Jaren Jackson Jr and Mohamed Bamba. Big men Wendell Carter, Robert Williams, Mitchell Robinson, Moritz Wagner and Chimezie Metu are also projected to go ahead of McCoy on June 21.

McCoy attended the NBA Combine in May and registered the fifth-longest standing reach at the event. He’s also fairly quick for his size and ran a faster three-quarter court sprint than guards Aaron Holiday and Troy Brown. McCoy worked out in front of more than 100 scouts, general managers and front office decision-makers at Impact Basketball in Las Vegas earlier this month. His strengths and weaknesses are well known by now.

McCoy may lack versatility on the court, he’s multifaceted off it. He’s an accomplished piano player who was first introduced to the instrument by one of his high school teachers.

“In technology class, I usually just watched basketball videos and stuff,” McCoy said. “But the technology teacher got tired of me watching that and said, ‘You know what Brandon, I’ve got a keyboard. Do you want to mess with it?’

“From then on I just fell in love with music.”

McCoy now plays five instruments: the piano, guitar, drums, marimba and trombone. He is self-taught on the piano. The first song he learned was “Moment 4 Life” by Nicki Minaj and Drake. McCoy played both trombone and percussion for his high school marching band.

Rappers Lil Herb, Lil Baby and Gunna are heavy in his rotation. He hasn’t listened to Kanye West’s or Drake’s new albums but doesn’t think Pusha T went too hard when he dissed Drake in the highly publicized single “The Story of Adidon.” In the song, Pusha T hits Drake from all angles, alleges that he fathered a child with adult film star Sophie Brussaux and takes shots at Drake’s longtime producer Noah “40” Shebib, who has multiple sclerosis.

That’s just rap, according to McCoy, who isn’t afraid to speak candidly on any subject, whether it be a feud between two rappers or his standing among the top big men in the draft. He’s hoping his honest and authentic personality hits home with a team picking towards the end of the first round in a little over one week from now.

“It’s a beef, and he’s trying to find dirt on him. … You’re supposed to go at him,” McCoy said.