Indiana lands dedication from 5-star McNeeley

Jeff Borzello Close Jeff Borzello ESPN Personnel Author Basketball recruiting insider. Joined ESPN in 2014. Graduate of University of Delaware.Paul Biancardi Close Paul Biancardi Basketball Recruiting National Recruiting Director for ESPN.com 18 years of training experience at Department I

level Former Horizon League coach of the year at Wright State Oct 15, 2023, 04:00 PM

wing in the spring of 2022 and preserved a stable pursuit over the past 18 months.”Indiana has actually been recruiting me the longest, and they have been the most consistent, “McNeeley told ESPN.”They have actually never ever wavered throughout the procedure. That has actually indicated a lot to me.”Editor’s Picks“The fans are crazy,”he included.”

They have revealed

as much as my games all over the nation. “A 6-foot-7 little forward from Texas who goes to Montverde Academy(Florida), McNeeley comes from a basketball family: His mom, 2 uncles, a grandfather and great-grandfather all played Department I college basketball. McNeeley is ranked No. 13 in the ESPN 100 for the class of 2024.”Coach Woodson dipped into IU and won a national championship under Coach [Bob] Knight, then went on to play in the NBA. He has actually done what I wish to do, “McNeeley stated. “My goal is winning a championship game, to be drafted and play in the NBA. I think his experience can help me attain those goals. I am likewise thrilled to gain from coach Calbert Cheaney, who is now on personnel. Their strategy is to have me in areas to use my adaptability and have me associated with ball screens and coming off screens.”McNeeley averaged 16.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17 games on the Nike EYBL circuit in the spring and summer, shooting 37.5 %from 3-point variety. He has also represented U.S.A. Basketball at the U16 level, balancing 5.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in 6 games at the FIBA U16 Americas, where he won a gold medal.His senior season at Montverde is off to a strong start as he went for 25 points, 7 rebounds and 4 3-pointers in Saturday’s win in the Border League over Arizona Compass Prep.McNeeley is among the leading 10 shot-makers in the class of 2024, showing it consistently against top-level competition throughout his high school career.

The Texas native’s jumper begins with excellent footwork, and he is at his best moving off the ball and with screens, consisting of spot-ups, broad pindowns for threes or curling in the lane. He is also excellent at setting a back screen and shaping up as well as being a screen-setter and popping out.He shows a strong basketball IQ as a decision-maker and when it comes to using his shot-fake and drive game. He is more than simply a spot-up shooter, revealing an ability to finish at the rim through contact due to his size and strength while likewise being effective as a ball handler and passer. His defense is making progress, however he will need to demonstrate he can guard smaller sized and quicker players on a regular basis.McNeeley is the very first dedication for Indiana in the 2024 class, but Woodson and the Hoosiers have 2 big targets left on the board. They are still in the mix for five-star guard Boogie Fland, who is perceived to be picking in between Indiana and Kentucky, and top-15 big male Derik Queen, who is also being pursued by Houston, Maryland and others.McNeeley’s pledge marks the 3rd straight class in which Indiana has actually landed a luxury commitment, following Malik Reneau in 2022 and Mackenzie Mgbako in 2023. Possibly most notable about Reneau, Mgbako and McNeeley is that none of the three is from Indiana or had previous ties to the

program. When Woodson took over in 2021, he made it a point to hire the best potential customers in the country, regardless of area.” When I first was available 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 Star last month.”And I said,’Bulls–. Why not? All they can do is inform you no.’They resembled,’Well,

it doesn’t work like that in the college game. You have actually got to go and just recruit players and after that work your way to the top in regards to trying to hire the best players.’And I didn’t wish to wait. “