Indiana lands constancy from 5-star ahead Liam McNeeley

5-star petite ahead Liam McNeeley introduced his constancy to Indiana on Sunday, giving Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers a plenty win at the recruiting path.

Indiana beat out Kansas for McNeeley’s guarantee, despite the fact that Texas was once additionally closely concerned till contemporary weeks. It’s a commentary constancy for the Hoosiers, who prolonged an do business in to the sharpshooting wing within the spring of 2022 and maintained a gentle pursuit over the future 18 months.

“Indiana has been recruiting me the longest and they have been the most consistent,” McNeeley informed ESPN. “They have never wavered during the process. That has meant a lot to me.”

“The fans are crazy,” he added. “They have shown up to my games all over the country.”

A 6-foot-7 petite ahead from Texas who attends Montverde Academy (Florida), McNeeley comes from a basketball public: His mom, two uncles, a grandfather and great-grandfather all performed Category-I faculty basketball. McNeeley is ranked Refuse. 13 within the ESPN 100 for the category of 2024.

“Coach Woodson played at IU and won a national championship under Coach [Bob] Knight, then went on to play in the NBA. He has done what I want to do,” McNeeley mentioned. “My goal is winning a national championship, to be drafted and play in the NBA. I believe his experience can help me attain those goals. I am also excited to learn from Coach Calbert Cheaney, who is now on staff. Their plan is to have me in spots to utilize my versatility and have me involved in ball screens and coming off screens.”

McNeeley averaged 16.8 issues and 5.1 rebounds in 17 video games at the Nike EYBL circuit within the spring and summer time, capturing 37.5% from 3-point area. He has additionally represented USA Basketball on the U16 point, averaging 5.7 issues and 5.0 rebounds in six video games on the FIBA U16 Americas, the place he gained a gold medal.

His senior season at Montverde is off to a powerful get started as he went for 25 issues, 7 rebounds and four 3-pointers in Saturday’s win within the Border League over Arizona Compass Prep.

McNeeley is without doubt one of the zenith 10 shot-makers within the magnificence of 2024, proving it constantly in opposition to high-level pageant all over his highschool profession. The Texas local’s jumper begins with finest footwork and he’s at his very best transferring off the ball and with monitors, together with spot-ups, large pindowns for 3s or curling within the lane. He’s additionally important at surroundings a again shield and shaping up in addition to being a screen-setter and coming out.

He presentations a powerful basketball IQ as a decision-maker and relating to using his shot-fake and power sport. He’s greater than only a spot-up shooter, appearing a capability to complete on the rim via touch because of his dimension and power, day additionally being efficient as a ball handler and passer. His protection is making travel, however he’ll want to show he can preserve smaller and sooner gamers on a common foundation.

McNeeley is the primary constancy for Indiana within the 2024 magnificence, however Woodson and the Hoosiers have two obese goals left at the board. They’re nonetheless within the combine for five-star preserve Boogie Fland, who’s appeared to be opting for between Indiana and Kentucky, and top-15 obese guy Derik Queen, who may be being pursued by means of Houston, Maryland and others.

McNeeley’s guarantee marks the 3rd instantly magnificence by which Indiana has landed a five-star constancy, following Malik Reneau in 2022 and Mackenzie Mgbako in 2023. In all probability maximum important about Reneau, Mgbako and McNeeley is that not one of the 3 is from Indiana or had earlier ties to this system. When Woodson took over in 2021, he made it some degree to employ the most efficient possibilities within the nation, without reference to location.

“When I first came in here as the coach, my coaches that kept over, and the new guys I hired, they were like, ‘Woody, you can’t start at the top in terms of recruiting,'” Woodson informed the Indianapolis Celebrity utmost life. “And I said, ‘Bull—-. Why not? All they can do is tell you no.’ They were like, ‘Well, it doesn’t work like that in the college game. You’ve got to go and just recruit players, and then work your way to the top in terms of trying to recruit the best players.’ And I didn’t want to wait.”