Five-star wing Liam McNeeley’s Indiana basketball official visit ‘looms large’ on fall calendar

The Indiana basketball fall recruiting calendar is starting to fill up with visits, both unofficially, and officially. Targets such as 2024 five-star center Derik Queen and 2025’s like Jalen Haralson, Trent Sisley and Braylon Mullins all have confirmed they will be in Bloomington this fall.

At the top of that list of upcoming visits, however, is arguably the highest priority recruit for the Indiana basketball program at the moment, 2024 five-star wing Liam McNeeley.

McNeeley has confirmed to HoosierIllustrated.com that he will be visiting Indiana on September 8-10, which will be his second official visit to Bloomington. His visit will also take place at the same time as his fellow Montverde Academy (FL) teammate, Derik Queen.

The second official visit to Indiana is one of the visits that ‘looms large’ on the hoops calendar according to Rivals Basketball Recruiting Director Rob Cassidy’s latest “I’ve Got Five On It” series.

But why does this upcoming visit from McNeeley seem even more important this time around?

“Because it could seal the deal,” said Rob Cassidy.

“The stakes for Liam McNeeley’s second official visit to Indiana feel absolutely massive, as the Hoosiers have been near the top of the five-star’s list for almost a year. Prospects don’t usually take second official visits unless things have gotten serious, and the list of massive threats to snag the forward’s pledge is getting shorter.”

Besides Indiana, Texas has been looked as the other program competing the hardest to get a commitment out of the 6-foot-7, five-star wing. However, even though Liam McNeeley is a Texas native, the Hoosiers seem to be out in front of the Longhorns in his recruitment at this point.

“Texas is definitely a player, but it seems as though the Longhorns are chasing the Hoosiers for now,” Rob Cassidy added. “If things go well when McNeeley hits Bloomington this fall, Mike Woodson could have the cornerstone to his 2024 class in place shortly thereafter.”

At Montverde this season he averaged 13.7 points and was second in the NIBC averaging 2.2 made 3s per game. Playing for Florida Rebels on the Nike EYBL Circuit this summer, McNeeley averaged 16.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game across 17 games. He shot 37 percent from three (30-of-81).

He was terrific closing out the regular season, however. In the final seven games before Peach Jam, McNeeley averaged 27 points a game on 46.7 percent from the floor (46-of-105).

With Indiana basketball looked as one of the program to make the most noise in the 2024 recruiting trail, being able to secure a commitment from McNeeley would certainly put the Hoosiers in the running for a potential top five freshman class.

Mike Woodson and the Indiana basketball program see McNeeley as one of the cornerstone pieces that can help take the Hoosiers to the next level.

“Indiana is obviously a historic basketball state, and the fans in Indiana almost worship basketball,” Liam McNeeley previously told HoosierIllustrated.com. “Love from the fans make me feel wanted.”

“They emphasized me being a bigger guard and being versatile. Coming off ball screens or posting up smaller defenders and moving the ball in transition.” McNeeley said.

Indiana, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Michigan and Alabama was listed in McNeeley’s final six schools.

McNeeley is ranked the No. 7 overall in the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

SEE ALSO: Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson will likely visit 2024 5-star guard Boogie Fland next month

Follow Hoosier Illustrated on Twitter @Indiana_FRN to stay up to date on all of the news, updates and coverage of Indiana University athletics.