He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels, winning a national championship in his junior season.

He led New Hampton to the 2002 New England Prep School Class A championship and was named MVP of the title game.

He played in the McDonald's All-American Game with future Tar Heel teammates Raymond Felton and Sean May.

[citation needed] Sources: Alongside Sean May, Raymond Felton, and David Noel, McCants joined a stellar recruiting class at UNC for the 2002–2003 season, coached by Matt Doherty.

[citation needed] With freshman Marvin Williams joining the squad for the 2004–2005 season, the junior class led by preseason Wooden Award candidates in McCants, May, and Felton gave UNC a high ranking in all preseason polls and the team was seen as one of the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament.

After going 33–4 and winning the ACC regular season, McCants' 16.4 points per game helped secure UNC one of the four number one seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

UNC cruised to the championship game, where McCants helped the Tar Heels defeat the Illinois Fighting Illini, 75–70.

In an interview with local television station WRAL, McCants compared UNC to a prison, stating, "You're not allowed to say certain things, but once you get out of jail, you're free.

The two were introduced by the National Football League player Reggie Bush who had been dating her sister Kim at the time.

Eight years later, speaking with a Charlotte Observer reporter while looking back on his career in the NBA, McCants stated that the highly publicized relationship with Khloe Kardashian was the "biggest regret" because it "gave people an opportunity to doubt his commitment to the NBA", adding: "Without that situation in play, I’m a $60-70 million player.

), losing $200,000, amongst the $5.79 million in total she stole from him, Ricky Williams, Travis Best, Dennis Rodman, Lex Hilliard and others.

[30] Fulford, who was indicted by the FBI in December 2016, continued her criminal activity until sentenced in February 2018 to 10 years in prison and full financial restitution to her victims.