Per ESPN McNeeley is going pro | Page 5 | The Boneyard

Per ESPN McNeeley is going pro

I wish Liam the best, I respect his competitive spirit. But, do I think he would be better off long term from a basketball perspective, getting stronger and playing at UConn another year - absolutely.
I admire his mom and other family members, always being there to cheer him on throughout the season.
 
SubbaBub said:
Only if he doesn't get a guaranteed NBA contract. I think he'll work hard enough to stick at the NBA level but he needs to show some defense.
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Due to NIL $, I was thinking he should stay one more year, to develop. I think he could have improved with one more year while still making $ and set himself up for quicker ramp up in NBA.

If he is lottery pick and that’s what he’s being told, I will gladly say good decision, go now.

If he falls out of lottery, then I will wish him the best, root for him in the NBA and be a fan for life but also think about what could have been for him with one more year to develop.
 
Anyone who says Liam should come back for another year does not know ball.

If you’re a lock to be a first round pick, which comes with a guaranteed 2 years (plus 2 more team option years), you go. Period.

The last pick (30th) in the first round makes 2.5m dollars in year 1. The last lottery pick (14th) makes 4.5m dollars in year 1.

It could be said about almost every single player in the draft, especially freshman and sophomores, that coming back would make them better off as basketball players, especially as the 18-19yos get physically stronger and more athletic. What else would make them better off? Playing basketball full-time for an NBA franchise, even if it’s in the G league.

As a fan, yes it sucks, but it’s about the paycheck and grabbing one of the 450 NBA jobs available when the opportunity presents itself.
 
BigTenFan said:
I agree
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird would have done the same if available to them....thankfully we got to see them play against each other as college seniors
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Waquoit said:
Magic was a sophomore.
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Yes, Magic left for the draft after his sophomore season.

Bird also had an option. He spent his freshman year at Indiana but left early in the secons semester as he couldn't deal with Bobby Knight. After the required year sitting out, then a sophomore and junior year at Indiana State, he was eligible to enter the draft (Celtics picked him 6th) and retain college eligibility (this rule only lasted another year).
 
Best of fortune to young Liam, I wish him. Nothing but success. The better he does at the next level the better for UConn.
I have no doubt that he will make more $ from this decision not only next year but also in his career.
He is sacrificing though…I highly doubt that he will enjoy next year in the NBA more than another year as a star in college but this is his choice.
For his legacy: a touch above Daniel Hamilton
and Andre but still left a lot unaccomplished and his personal performance certain fizzled as the season ran down. Still a very likable young man
 
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Mr. French said:
Rooting hard for Liam - he was a great get in recruiting and he fit us great. Unfortunately our overall roster wasn’t quite there, but he was very good, if inconsistent. I expect him to keep going up!
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I get a Daniel Hamilton vibe. Even though ham was here 2 years.
 
AdamaNation said:
I get a Daniel Hamilton vibe. Even though ham was here 2 years.
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For starters, McNeeley is loads better at basketball than Hamilton, who I don't think left for basketball reasons. Everyone and their brother didn't think he was ready, but among the many rumors, Hamilton didn't like school and there was an outside shot of being academically ineligible.
 
Not ready for the bigs. But, he'll get to hone his skills in the D-League without the pressure that he'd have in the NCAA.
 
Husker Husky said:
Not ready for the bigs. But, he'll get to hone his skills in the D-League without the pressure that he'd have in the NCAA.
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*G-League. Thanks for letting the board know how valid your opinion is by telling us he needs to develop in a league that doesn’t exist!
 
Husky25 said:
For starters, McNeeley is loads better at basketball than Hamilton, who I don't think left for basketball reasons. Everyone and their brother didn't think he was ready, but among the many rumors, Hamilton didn't like school and there was an outside shot of being academically ineligible.
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People don’t remember Hamilton almost went pro after his freshman year. And that is correct kid did not like school
 
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CashewCrew said:
Doesn't it not matter if he has an agent anymore... that changed a couple years ago
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I was not aware. Either that I forgot as I am getting old. Are you saying he can’t change his mind? Thanks.
 
Too bad. I really like this kid’s game, but in an ideal world he’d have time to mature before joining the men. When he struggles, body language is awful.
 
Rdkid said:
Too bad. I really like this kid’s game, but in an ideal world he’d have time to mature before joining the men. When he struggles, body language is awful.
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I want him to thrive in the NBA but on the topic of defense, it got worse and worse as the season went on…. Maybe it was a because of an injury….

But if he can’t keep up with players twice as fast as he saw this year, he’s going to struggle to stay on a roster.

I guess that’s true for any NBA player trying to make it in NBA.

But watching Liam get blown by time and time again, made me think cashing in on NIL $$$ for one more year, refine game, decrease ramp time in NBA one he’s there would not have been a bad idea.

I hope I’m wrong.
 
NHUConnfan said:
He'll be a lot better than Sam Hauser. That's his floor.
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I don't know...Hauser is pretty darn good. I think McNeeley will be better, but not by a lot. Hauser rebounds, plays pretty good D, and shoots 40+ percent on NBA 3 pointers with a quick release. He doesn't turn the ball over. And he's playing 20-25 minutes per game off the bench for a team with an MVP candidate, last year's playoff MVP, Holiday, White, Porzingis and the probable 6th man of the year in Pritchard.
 
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Every year this comes up...Player A is not ready and will be better served coming back for another year of development.

If you are a first round pick you should not come back no matter what the circumstances. Development in the NBA is better than in college. The difference is, in order to develop you need to have the work ethic as nobody is going to hold your hand. McNeeley has the work ethic.
 
Husker Husky said:
Not ready for the bigs. But, he'll get to hone his skills in the D-League without the pressure that he'd have in the NCAA.
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Yeah! A projected lottery pick at the beginning of the season, nothing like ending up in the D-League without the pressure of the NCAA. What college star would want that? Heck, even Flagg probably wants that.
 
NickDanger said:
What are you talking about?
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I was just replying to someone else replying to someone else regarding using a 1 year sure fire lottery pick and having to stay 2 years to develop more against us. Not that I agree with that but was just explaining why the first guy mentioned it being used against us by other schools trying to get can't miss Freshmen.
 
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Hans Sprungfeld said:
He'd already using this as bulletin board material.
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Oh, by golly!!

I hope they don't make me guard him at the next level. I'm sure it would get real embarrassing.

Sarcasm aside, I hope he does, but I have my doubts that McNeeley needs a loyal, outspoken, UConn alum, 2.5x times his age, with a degree in Accounting to light a fire under him.

Fatroony5 said:
It’s the G League, not the D League.
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They are the same thing. The NBA "D"evelopmental League is only called the "G"-League because the NBA gave Gatorade naming rights in 2017. Is it really that confusing when someone refers to the arena in downtown Hartford as "the Civic Center?" XL has had naming rights for 18 years.
 
3rdbass said:
I could see him playing a Sam Hauser role off the bench. I think his outside shot is better than he showed and he won't have to create in the NBA like he did here.
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I don't have the exact #'s, but Liam was at like 45/39 pre injury and 33/28 post. While he did have the huge Creighton game, he was not the same player post-injury.
 
Nice player. Didn't help win a title or get UConn to S16. Definitely should go in draft. No idea what his floor or ceiling are in NBA. Unlikely to give him another thought after draft.
 
storrsroars said:
Nice player. Didn't help win a title or get UConn to S16. Definitely should go in draft. No idea what his floor or ceiling are in NBA. Unlikely to give him another thought after draft.
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Exactly. Reminds me a little of Andre Drummonds time here. Not really memorable as time passes but he gets credit for being a “good” Husky.
 
UCan3 said:
I want him to thrive in the NBA but on the topic of defense, it got worse and worse as the season went on…. Maybe it was a because of an injury….

But if he can’t keep up with players twice as fast as he saw this year, he’s going to struggle to stay on a roster.

I guess that’s true for any NBA player trying to make it in NBA.

But watching Liam get blown by time and time again, made me think cashing in on NIL $$$ for one more year, refine game, decrease ramp time in NBA one he’s there would not have been a bad idea.

I hope I’m wrong.
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Plus a stronger shot at competing for a national championship. The incoming class of three MAAs and a highly touted gold medal winning Australian is very young (duh, they are freshmen), but McNeeley knows the ropes and would be a tremendous captain along side Solo Ball and Tarris Reed. As it stands, UConn has no sophomores on the roster.

Three will probably be walk-on level, but Hurley has to fill a minimum of six spots through the portal or with a late commit.
 
Imagine criticizing a 19-year-old by saying he's not a "finished product."

They can't all be LeBron, sorry
 
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