Forward Justin McBride Joins Kentucky Men’s Basketball
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Justin McBride, a 6-foot-7 forward, has signed with the Kentucky men’s basketball program it was announced on Thursday. McBride averaged 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game at James Madison a season ago.
The Plano, Texas, native was a third team pick for the All-Sun Belt team after appearing in all 31 games and making 30 starts for the Dukes in 2025-26. He is the first JMU player since Matt Lewis in 2019-20 to average at least 15 points and five rebounds per game for the season. McBride logged 22 games in double-digit scoring and topped the 20-point threshold 10 times. He shot 49.4 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc, making 38 of 95 attempts.
McBride is one of five JMU players since 2004-05 to have multiple 30-point scoring efforts in a single season. He had 33 points vs. Norfolk State and 30 points and 12 rebounds against South Alabama. The 33 points vs. Norfolk State were the most for a JMU player inside Atlantic Union Bank Center.
He connected on three or more 3s in seven games, while hauling in at least seven boards in 12 outings.
Prior to his time at JMU, McBride suited up for Nevada as a sophomore and Oklahoma State as a freshman. With Nevada, McBride played in 34 games and averaged 7.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He had 11 games with 10 or more points, including a season-high 19 points vs. Fresno State. He shot 52.1 percent from the floor and made 14 3-pointers.
At Oklahoma State, McBride appeared in 24 games and averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game as the Big 12’s youngest active player in 2023-24. He shot 70.4 percent from 2-point range (19 of 27).
McBride was a four-star recruit and ranked 79th overall by 247Sports in the class of 2024. He was one of nine players named to the inaugural THSCA 6A Boys Basketball Super Elite Team, which recognizes student-athletes from around the state of Texas for their exemplary athletic achievements. McBride guided Plano High School to a top 10 ranking and earned First Team UIL All-State in 6A. As a junior, he averaged 10.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, while shooting better than 50 percent from the field, as his squad finished the regular season unbeaten. He also spent time at Oak Hill Academy during his high school career prior to returning home to Texas.
McBride was a member of the 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship squad. He averaged 7.7 points and 5.5 rebounds to help the USA to a 6-0 record and a gold in Xalpala, Mexico.
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