Chris, born to Chuck and Nancy McGaha in Phoenix, Arizona, has one brother Charles, and two younger sisters, Sarah and Lyndsey.
Chris attended Moon Valley High School in Phoenix, where he earned four letters in football, three in basketball and two in track and field.
McGaha won the Glendale Union High School District Slam Dunk contest as a junior and anchored Moon Valley's state qualifying 4 x 100 metres relay team.
[7] He finished with 61 receptions for 830 yards, leading the team in both categories and tying for 10th on the single season list with Zach Miller in 2004.
He also became a fan favorite for both his consistency and his ability to make spectacular catches, most notably his diving 31-yard reception against The University of Arizona.