2024 Recruiting: Liam McNeeley

[Dandy]

Schools in contact...Uconn???? I thought we did not get involved in the Portal until our year was done? Don't get me wrong, I think the coaching staff has no choice but to act now, but that post confused me, because Dan Hurley was adamant that his staff was focused on the tourney.

He said in an interview the other day that he had talked with Tom Moore who Hurley labeled the team's "GM" about the roster next year and NIL.

 

[superjohn]

He said in an interview the other day that he had talked with Tom Moore who Hurley labeled the team's "GM" about the roster next year and NIL.

Tom Moore never gets enough credit, love that dude.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

He said in an interview the other day that he had talked with Tom Moore who Hurley labeled the team's "GM" about the roster next year and NIL.

But did Tom review the course catalog with him?

 

[Samoo]

But did Tom review the course catalog with him?

And was that interview held at a urinal?

 

[Umami Zen]

Is Roumeglou closer to a big guard than a true 4?

When he comes in he's handling the ball and running offense. We just see it in very short instances. I feel like he would be even more over matched on defense against a true 4 than Karaban.

Abraham??

 

[UconnU]

I was reading the Athletic‘s scouting report, this paragraph caught my attention.

McNeeley’s feel for the game is outstanding. He moves exceptionally well without the ball and knows how to come off of screens to create open looks across all three levels depending on how the defense plays him. He’s a sharp passer within the flow of the offense even if he’s not a particularly adept shot creator on his own off the bounce. I also think he’s fairly underrated on defense, where his general basketball IQ and willingness to be physical allow him to play above his physical athletic tools.

Dan Hurley create-a-player.

 

[Hoopcrazee]

I am not against the portal at all to fill in gaps like we have, especially with untested freshmen, but we have 3 well regarded freshmen who will be sophmores that if we portal recruit over, someone will definitely leave. If somehow we got Liam, and I agree we need a decent backup center, I think that should be it for the portal (also assuming AK stays). I am willing to have a "down" year, at least first half of the year, to let the 3 then sophomores to develop more. I think we would be a top 20 team by the end of the season and be a threat in the tournament. Too much portal over recruits would damage culture I believe.

How many portal gets did we have last year????? did not seem to hurt the culture.. In Hurley we should trust to bring in portal players who he feels fit the culture and will pay the price to be a team first player

 

[UCTitleTown]

As I've said multiple times on the Yard, you supplement your roster and fill holes (often unplanned due to kids going pro etc. that leaves you in a bind with your high school recruiting) through the portal, you shouldn't use it as your main roster building strategy.

 

[YearoftheHusky]

Why are some of you talking about the portal? This is going to be a true freshman.

 

[Leebo]

Schools in contact...Uconn???? I thought we did not get involved in the Portal until our year was done? Don't get me wrong, I think the coaching staff has no choice but to act now, but that post confused me, because Dan Hurley was adamant that his staff was focused on the tourney.

Work a little harder on the trolling.

 

[UconnU]

Good watch. Interesting that his mother was also a D1 college basketball player. That seems to be a theme.

 

[husky99]

Good story

 

[nomar]

Schools in contact...Uconn???? I thought we did not get involved in the Portal until our year was done? Don't get me wrong, I think the coaching staff has no choice but to act now, but that post confused me, because Dan Hurley was adamant that his staff was focused on the tourney.

I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul

 

[husky429]

I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul

Someone doesn't understand Coachspeak.

 

[husky99]

What position would he play next year if he picked uconn?

 

[husky429]

What position would he play next year if he picked uconn?

Starting 2-guard.

 

[Methalius]

If he wants to come in and be coached hard and work his ass off then I will welcome him with open arms. If he would rather go for NIL money and showcase his talent for the NBA then I'd rather him not come to Storrs. I don't want UConn to turn into a Kentucky or a Duke where year in and year out they get these 5 Star recruits and leave after 9 months for the NBA after their team flames out in the 2nd round or Sweet 16. No Thank you.

 

[AllHusky]

The sweetest recruit in my UConn Fandom history after Donyell Marshall, was DeAndre Daniels. Stole him right away from Kansas and we wouldnt have won the title without him. We don't usually swoop in and steal recruits, it usually happens to us. Maybe the UConn lovefest can change that? This kid is the real deal.

The greatest swoop of all time, maybe the most significant recruit in UConn history:
KHALID EL AMIN!!

 

[WhereistheDove?]

What position would he play next year if he picked uconn?

3/4. Defensive position is pretty similar to Stewart and the two of them would give a lot of versatility.

I’m fascinated to see how Hurley does with these elite shooter recruits going forward. We now have two years of Hurley running the most NBA-like offensive sets (this year even more so) in college ball, that would presumably be very exciting to a catch and shoot guy like McNeeley. Obviously there are a ton of other factors at play, but if I’m McNeeley, hard not to watch the film UConn is no doubt sending him and not get excited.

 

[UCTitleTown]

The greatest swoop of all time, maybe the most significant recruit in UConn history:
KHALID EL AMIN!!

True. He was thought to be a Minnesota lock, and then KEA said, "Wait, Minnesota??? Aww, hell no!!"

 

[RipCity]

Starting 2-guard.

He played the 4 and 3 in AAU. Did he play the 2 at MVA? If not I doubt he has the speed or handle for that

 

[husky429]

He played the 4 and 3 in AAU. Did he play the 2 at MVA? If not I doubt he has the speed or handle for that

I was thinking of the wrong kid at MVA. He's probably a 3 for us with spot minutes at the 4 like Castle.

 

[bendm]

3/4. Defensive position is pretty similar to Stewart and the two of them would give a lot of versatility.

But if Karaban and stew are the starting forwards? We’d need Liam to be our starting 2

 

[husky429]

So how’s that work if Karaban and stew are the starting forwards? We’d need Liam to play the 2

I wouldn't be against playing 3 forwards if we have a solid lead guard up front, but I think that would be a stretch with Diarra/Nowell.

One of the Stewart and McNeeley would be coming off the bench, but would get 20+ mpg backing up the 3/4.

 

[marti3td]

Are we even sure that we are involved/both parties interested?

 

[bendm]

I wouldn't be against playing 3 forwards if we have a solid lead guard up front, but I think that would be a stretch with Diarra/Nowell.

One of the Stewart and McNeeley would be coming off the bench, but would get 20+ mpg backing up the 3/4.

Could be a hard sell for both guys imo

 

[navery12]

Are we even sure that we are involved/both parties interested?

UConn reached out, no idea if their interest was reciprocated though

 

[husky429]

Could be a hard sell for both guys imo

Correct. I expect that this one is exceedingly unlikely because of that.

 

[Methalius]

Are we even sure that we are involved/both parties interested?

According to ESPN's Recruiting information UConn isn't even listed as a school in consideration.

 

[Bazz4A]

But if Karaban and stew are the starting forwards? We’d need Liam to be our starting 2

Not disagreeing with anything above - but that would mean Ball wouldn’t be in the starting lineup next year?