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Former Westminster Christian Academy star is one win away from being a national champion.

The Houston freshman is redshirting this season, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t enjoying the Cougars' run in San Antonio.

“It’s so much fun,� he said. “It’s something I’m gonna remember for forever and, you know, I wouldn’t rather spend it with anybody but these guys.�

As part of Kelvin Sampson’s squad, McCarty was on the bench watching Houston overcome a 14-point deficit to stun Duke in the Final Four on Saturday night.

“That’s something I’ll never forget,� McCarty said, explaining that even down 10, Sampson never felt out of it. “We never looked back.�

In that game, McCarty really understood why Sampson is always telling his team never to give up or quit.

“If you quit, then you can’t win. But, you know, we never gave up, never quit and God helped us out and the chips fell in our favor,� McCarty said.

While he will finish the 2024-25 season without any stats, McCarty said he’s gained valuable experience and learned important lessons that he’s looking forward to showcasing when he gets his chance.

“Man, it makes me so excited,� he said. “I’ve been texting my friends and my family just telling them how much I can’t wait and how much these experiences mean to me and the feeling that I have here. So, I can’t wait.�

And win or lose Monday night, with a Final Four trip in year one on campus, McCarty is happy to be a Cougar.

“I never would have expected us to make it here my first year of college, but I’m blessed,� he said. “Just shows me I picked the right school.�