Indiana basketball lands commitment from 2024 top-15 prospect Liam McNeeley

The Indiana basketball program has landed its first commitment in the 2024 class as five-star wing Liam McNeeley announced his pledge to the program.

McNeeley chose Indiana over Kansas. He had other offers from Texas, Arkansas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss and nearly 20 other programs around the country.

Mike Woodson and the rest of the Indiana basketball staff had prioritized McNeeley for the entirety of his recruitment. He was the top target for Indiana for over the last 12 months.

“Their consistency has never wavered for the time that they have been recruiting me,” McNeeley told HoosierIllustrated.com earlier this month.

McNeeley, originally from Texas, transferred to Montverde Academy (Fla.) last season and emerged as one of the top prospects in the country. This past 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).

“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. ” … I see myself coming in and making winning plays to help the team in as many ways as possible.”

Liam McNeeley is ranked the No. 13 overall prospect in the 2024 247Sports composite rankings. But, 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein recently had some high praise for the 6-foot-7 wing.

“I think he’s proven himself to be one of the ten best players in high school basketball today…” Finkelstein said. “There also aren’t ten other players that I would rather have as freshman in college basketball next year.”

McNeeley proved this summer his ability to play both on or off of the ball. He is a tremendous and proven shooter who is highly efficient on the floor. His best tool may be his playmaking ability, however. He can play on the ball and orchestrate the offense. He has good court vision and great feel for the game and the speed of each possession.

Now, the attention turns to his Montverde teammate and fellow five-star Derik Queen. The top-20 center is good friends with McNeeley — both taking two official visits to Indiana together.

Sources have indicated to HoosierIllustrated that McNeeley’s commitment could ultimately play somewhat of a role in Queen’s recruitment. While it will be a basketball decision at the end of the day, the friendship between the two holds a lot of weight.

“We have a great relationship. We’re brothers,” McNeeley said of his relationship with Queen.

McNeeley becomes the fourth five-star prospect to commit to Indiana under Mike Woodson. He is the second-highest prospect to commit to Indiana since 2018.