He is best known for his All-American college career at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he led the Panthers to the school's first Sweet 16 appearance in the 2005 NCAA basketball tournament.
[1] He spent the 2002–03 season attending and playing for Paris Junior College, then was recruited to Milwaukee by coach Bruce Pearl.
At Milwaukee, McCants led the Panthers to their first two Horizon League regular season championships in 2004 and 2005, earning first team all-conference honors both years.
As a junior in 2003–04, McCants paired with Dylan Page to propel Milwaukee to a 20-11 record and a berth in the 2004 National Invitation Tournament.
In the second round, the Panthers knocked out 4 seed Boston College with McCants scoring 18, leading the program to its first Sweet 16 in its history.
[2] At the close of the season, McCants was named Horizon League Player of the Year and an Associated Press honorable mention All-American.
[4] Ed McCants Co-Founder of "Hidden Gems AAU Program" (2005, currently the active Vice President assists aspiring high school athletes prepare for college.
Since the start of the "Hidden Gems" program has assisted more than 100 basketball players in landing college athletic scholarships.