SNAPSHOT
A wing who can shoot the ball with the best of them, Liam McNeeley will add to any team looking to add to their perimeter presence, and has made a strong case to be selected inside the top 20 of the 2025 NBA Draft in Chicago.
With the ability to impact the game with his red-hot shooting from distance as well as not requiring too much of the ball to get involved, McNeeley will be able to slot into any rotation nicely and compliment the rosters that are already built.
DRAFT PROFILE
A native of Richardson, Texas, McNeeley played at several high schools, impressing on each step of his journey as he slowly made a name for himself as one to watch in the future. His final two years were spent at Montverde Academy in Florida, which has become a popular destination for NBA Draft prospects.
He was a consensus five-star recruit and considered one of the best players in his draft class coming into his collegiate career, and despite initially signing with Indiana, he opted to join the Huskies instead and spend his sole NCAA campaign with UConn.
McNeeley showcased his immense ceiling with a few massive performances throughout his time with the Huskies, including 38 points and 10 rebounds in a road win over Creighton in February, while also passing 25+ points on several occasions.
Throughout the 2024/25 NCAA season, he averaged 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.2 blocks per game while shooting 38.1 per cent from the field, 31.7 per cent from three-point land and 86.6 per cent from the free throw line.
STRENGTHS
+ Catch and shoot ability
+ Ceiling as a scorer
+ Ability to impact without the ball
+ Reliable playmaking
IMPROVEMENTS
- Shooting off the dribble
- Athleticism
As a perimeter shooter, McNeeley does his best work putting up an attempt immediately after a catch, taking no time at all to put up a shot. He can nail triples despite falling away from the baskets and does not give the defence time to properly get into position and contest the shots.
As mentioned above, McNeeley showcased his immense ceiling on the offensive end with multiple game-winning performances on the back of his shotmaking. Although he is not quite there yet in terms of shot creation, he has shown the ability to post some massive totals for his side.
As a sharpshooting wing, the prospect does not need too much of the ball to make an impact, which will certainly add to his value for NBA scouts. Teams with an already established core or ball-dominant star will be drawn to his ability to hit the scoreboard off the ball.
McNeeley could take his game to the next level if he improves his ability to score off the dribble, which has not been one of his strong suits to date. It would make him a much more dangerous three-level scorer and allow him to attack closeouts and get easier separation from the defence.
DRAFT PROJECTION: Top 25
McNeeley can fit into just about any NBA offence with his ability to nail shots off the catch and not demanding too much of the ball to get involved. He will be appealing to rotations that are already settled and could have an immediate impact at the top level.
