Liam McNeeley: Contacted by Kentucky, Kansas, and Others After Decommitting from Indiana.
Liam McNeeley, a five-star forward ranked 15th overall on the 247Sports composite high school men’s basketball class of 2024 list, recently announced discussions with several prominent programs following his decision to withdraw his commitment from Indiana.
Speaking with ESPN’s Paul Biancardi, McNeeley revealed, “Moving forward, I’ve been in touch with several schools, including Kentucky, UConn, Kansas, Houston, and many others. New Michigan head coach Dusty May said I was his first recruiting call. That meant a lot to me.”
“At the moment, my main focus is preparing for the upcoming McDonald’s game and Chipotle Nationals. I plan to delay any college visits until after these basketball events have concluded.”
McNeeley also made it clear that he personally informed Indiana head coach Mike Woodson of his decision to decommit.
“I reached out to Indiana myself and had a direct conversation with Coach Mike Woodson,” McNeeley stated. “I expressed my utmost respect for Coach Woodson, Indiana University, and their passionate fan base.”
Standing at 6’7″ as a small forward, McNeeley played alongside Duke commit and the top overall prospect, Cooper Flagg, at Monteverde Academy in Florida.
McNeeley boasts an impressive resume, ranking as the fourth-best player at his position and earning invitations to multiple national showcases for high school basketball’s top players later this year.
His decommitment from Indiana earlier in the month coincided with a period of uncertainty and challenges for the program.
Despite Woodson’s return, there were rumors and speculation regarding the program’s future following a disappointing season that culminated in a 27-point loss to Nebraska in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals.
Indiana concluded the season with a 19-14 record (10-10 Big Ten), failing to secure a spot in the NCAA tournament. Currently, the only commitment for the class of 2024 is four-star small forward Bryson Tucker, ranked 20th overall.
Among McNeeley’s potential new options, Houston, led by head coach Kelvin Sampson, has consistently achieved 30-win seasons and recently topped the Big 12 regular season standings in its inaugural season in the conference. McNeeley could make an immediate impact in such a successful program.
Although Kentucky has faced challenges in recent NCAA tournaments, its strong track record of producing NBA talent remains intact, with prospects like Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard potentially being top-five picks in the upcoming NBA draft.
Initially, Indiana was favored over Kansas and Texas, according to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. Despite Kansas’ early exit from the tournament, the team remains a perennial contender and secured a title in 2022. Texas has also performed well recently, reaching the Elite Eight in 2023.
Ultimately, McNeeley has a variety of options available, and whichever team he chooses will gain a promising five-star prospect with the potential to become a future NBA lottery pick.
