He was drafted by his hometown New York Knicks but never played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and instead spent his three-year professional career in Spain.

[6] McKoy spent the offseason working for Watkins and returned to high school with a newfound desire to attend college.

[3] With the expectation that he could single-handedly make a team successful,[10] McKoy was one of the most sought-after high school players in the nation and received correspondence from 300 colleges.

[7][11] McKoy committed to play for the Redmen of St. John's University which was the major college closest to his home in Bayside, Queens.

[7] McKoy had been concerned about news of players transferring from the NC State Wolfpack – his other option – and the ability of his mother to attend his games, who did not like to fly.

[12] McKoy admired head coach Lou Carnesecca and would team up with close friend and former high school teammate Reggie Carter, who had transferred from the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors to play for the Redmen that season.

[10] During the Eastern Regional final of the 1979 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, McKoy banked in a rebound with five seconds remaining to win the game for the Redmen.

[16] He received tutoring from Willis Reed, who had joined the Redmen coaching staff as an unpaid volunteer assistant for the season.

"[18] He was the subject of jeers from fans during his final college game: a first-round loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 1981 National Invitation Tournament in which he played tentatively.