UConn freshman McNeeley headed to prepare

• Jonathan GivonyApr 1, 2025, 01:04 PM ET Close NBA draft expert and author Joined ESPN.com in July 2017
  Founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a personal scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and worldwide groups

UConn freshman wing Liam McNeeley, a projected lottery pick, will go into the 2025 NBA draft, he informed ESPN on Tuesday.McNeeley, the No. 14 possibility in ESPN’s NBA draft forecasts, was called Big East Freshman of the Year and All-Big East Third Team after balancing 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 helps per game this season.” It’s been a dream of mine to play in the NBA,”McNeeley informed ESPN.”I’ve been waiting a very long time for this minute. I’m so grateful and grateful to have actually belonged of UConn, to have played for these coaches and together with these colleagues. We had a lot enjoyable, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything worldwide. “My objective was to win a championship game. That didn’t happen, however I learned so

much as a player and individual during my time there. ” UConn freshman wing Liam McNeeley will go into June’s NBA Draft where he is expected to be a lottery choice. McNeeley was named Big East Freshman of the Year and to the All-Big East 3rd team. Steven Branscombe/Imagn Images McNeeley had several substantial efficiencies this season, showing his credentials as a lottery-level skill for UConn. He posted 38 points and 10 rebounds in an important roadway win at Creighton in February, and 26 points, 8 rebounds and 4 helps in a win over Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden. His season ended in the NCAA tournament round of 32 at the hands of No. 1 seed Florida, with McNeeley scoring 22 points against one of the top teams in college basketball. He missed 8 games over a five-week stretch with an ankle injury beginning in early January.” Playing for Danny Hurley was the very best thing that might have happened to me. He is very extreme and

required me to operate outside my comfort zone and get better as a player and individual,”McNeeley stated.”NBA groups saw that I’m a real rival. I bring toughness. I can space the flooring and shoot, play-make a little.

I’m a guy who will have a hard nose and do the dirty work. Somebody who will do everything he can to win. “At 6-foot-7, the 19-year-old’s size, shotmaking expertise, feel for the game and strength are very important qualities that NBA groups worth at the wing position.He did not shoot the ball as regularly this season (32 %)as scouts might have hoped. He was regarded as one of the very best perimeter shooters in his high school class after hitting 46%of his 3-pointers for an undefeated Montverde Academy group that also included projected lottery chooses Cooper Flagg(Duke)and Derik Queen(Maryland).”There were ups and downs,”McNeeley stated.”Excellent minutes and bad ones. I am preparing to deal with the vulnerable points of my game. The next few months will be straight work. I’ll be putting my head down and getting in the fitness center. Preparing yourself for the draft and the NBA combine. It will be fun, but also effort.” The NBA draft combine will be held May 11-18 in Chicago, and the draft will be June 25-26 in New York.Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft professional and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a personal searching and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and International teams.