By SAM LANCE
Five-star small forward Liam McNeeley has pledged to the back-to-back national champions Dan Hurley and UConn, per his Instagram page.
“It felt like a perfect fit,” he told ESPN.com. “There’s no reason we can’t contend for a three-peat.”
McNeeley — the 6-foot-7, 210-pound wing from Montverde Academy, is currently in Storrs (CT) on his visit. McNeeley was one of two available five-star recruits in the 2024 class.
“Liam is a born leader, communicator, and winner,” Montverde assistant coach Kevin Boyle Jr. told ZAGSBLOG. “He is known for his pure shooting ability but he’s also very capable driving to score at the rim coming off screens and dribble hand offs. Most plays that weren’t run for him here we used him as the passer because he’s got a great ability to connect with open teammates and feed the post.”
That Montverde connection
Liam McNeeley and Cooper Flagg connect for the alley-oop jam!
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— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) April 22, 2024
McNeeley could bring an Alex Karaban-type game to UConn with his toughness and long-range shooting ability. Karaban is testing the NBA waters, while retaining his college eligibility. UConn is losing freshman guard Steph Castle and sophomore big man Donovan Clingan to the NBA Draft, but has Michigan transfer forward Tarris Reed Jr. coming in to help offset the loss of Clingan.
McNeeley is the No. 16 prospect in the country per 247Sports. He averaged 16.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in 17 games on the EYBL circuit and was also named a McDonald’s All-American and won Chipotle Nationals with Montverde.
“He rebounds and competes on the glass,” Boyle Jr. added. “Most notably he plays his best in big games. Every game we had against a major opponent this season he was the best or second best player on the court.”
With McNeeley off the board some of the top high school prospects remaining include five-star center Jayden Quaintance and four-star guard Labaron Philon, who requested his NLI release from Kansas.
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