UNLV's McCoy leaving for NBA after freshman season

LAS VEGAS (AP) UNLV freshman center Brandon McCoy is leaving school early for the NBA.

McCoy announced his decision in a release from the school on Tuesday.

A 7-footer originally from Chicago, McCoy was named the Mountain West Conference freshman of the year in 2017-18 after setting league freshman records with 16.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He was 11th nationally with 18 double-doubles, shot 55 percent from the floor and blocked 1.7 shots per game.

McCoy, a former McDonald's All-American, was a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award that goes to the nation's top collegiate center.