Mitch McGary

Mitchell Neil William McGary (born June 6, 1992) is an American former professional basketball player.

Mitch McGary was born on June 6, 1992, and grew up in the Chesterton, Indiana, area.

He played in YMCA and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball leagues as a youth, and his father, Tim, who had never played organized sports, coached him until fourth grade.

McGary's mother is named Valerie.

When McGary was younger, his father thought his athletic future was in baseball.

McGary played on the 2007–08 Chesterton High School junior varsity team as a freshman, while eventual three-time Michigan Wolverines captain Zack Novak was a senior on the varsity team.

That year he also was a 6 ft, 190 lbs freshman tight end on the high school football team, but his father made him quit football as he continued to grow.

His local Indiana SPY Players AAU basketball team included future Michigan teammates Max Bielfeldt and Glenn Robinson III, son of Glenn Robinson.

McGary joined the varsity basketball team the following season and played two years.

McGary is afflicted with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

He eventually transferred to Brewster Academy, a prep school in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, to repeat his junior year because his parents thought the discipline would be good for him.

Before transferring to Brewster, McGary was the tallest kid in his school and in the basketball conference that he played in.

McGary shoots left-handed.

His reported best friend, Robinson had committed to Michigan on September 14, 2010.

As late as March 2011, McGary ranked 92nd in the national class of 2012 by Rivals.com.

During the LeBron James Skills Academy in July, McGary stood out as the best player in attendance.

He was invited to participate in the 5th annual Nike Global Challenge the following month.

Due to an ankle injury he did not participate.

However, later that month, he participated in the Boost Mobile Elite 24 event, where he shattered a backboard.

His other 2011 summer camps included Pittsburgh Jam Fest, the National Basketball Players Association Top 100 camp and the Under Armour Best of the Best Camp, where he was the most valuable player.

McGary scheduled his official Michigan visit for the beginning of September.

McGary completed his official campus visits to University of Michigan, University of North Carolina, and Duke University, in that order, by October 4.

However, due to injuries suffered a few weeks earlier while shattering the backboard, he only played pick-up games at Duke.

He also made an unofficial visit to Florida prior to these official visits.

In a press conference broadcast on ESPNU on November 3, 2011, McGary announced his verbal commitment to Michigan over his other two finalist Florida and Duke.

Within hours of the commitment, ESPN ranked Michigan's recruiting class the fifth best in the nation.

After several other schools announced their commitments, Michigan, which had been outside the top 25 at the end of October, ranked the number 7 class in the nation, according to ESPN.

He waited until November 9 to sign his National Letter of Intent so that his parents, who were still living in Indiana, could be present.

Both of his parents had liked head coach Mike Krzyzewski and had hoped that he would choose Duke.

At the time of their November 2011 National Letter of Intent signings, Nik Stauskas, Robinson and McGary gave Michigan a consensus top 10 entering class for its 2012 class.

At the time of his National Letter of Intent signing with Michigan Wolverines basketball, ESPN.com and Scout.com ranked McGary as the number two player in the United States high school class of 2012, while Rivals.com ranked him as the number three prospect.

He was not only the consensus top power forward recruit in the nation, but also the top big man according to most sources at the time.

After his signing, however, McGary fell down in the rankings as his underdeveloped offensive skills became apparent.

At Michigan, McGary became the sixth man as well as the leading shot blocker and rebounder for the 2012–13 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team.

During the season, he was twice named Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

McGary was technically eligible for the 2012 NBA draft.

A native of Chesterton, Indiana, McGary declared for the NBA draft after completing his sophomore season for the 2013–14 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team.

He became the regular starter during the 2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and earned South All-Regional Team and NCAA All-Tournament Team recognition as he helped the team reach the championship game.

He led all Big Ten freshmen in rebounding.

He was drafted 21st overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2014 NBA draft.