Indiana basketball the ‘clear leader’ for Liam McNeeley as he eyes a potential decision date

As the Indiana basketball program enters an extremely busy and important month of September, there is one weekend that stands out above the rest. That is the weekend of September 8th. 

Indiana will be hosting three visitors, all high school teammates that weekend. That includes five-star’s Liam McNeeley and Derik Queen and four-star Curtis Givens. Out of that trio, the McNeeley visit is the extremely critical one for the Hoosiers. 

“The weekend of sept 8 looms large,” 247Sports National Recruiting Director Eric Bossi said. “ … It’s most important for where they stand with Liam McNeeley and really trying to lock that up and get it done.”

Despite being heavily involved with numerous top-40 prospects, McNeeley is the key to the 2024 Indiana basketball recruiting class. He is also the recruitment that Indiana has moved to the top with.

“McNeeley is a guy that I think they’ve (Indiana) emerged as a clear leader for,” Bossi added.  “Texas and some of the other schools are in there, but I really like the chances for Indiana with him. It fits with what they are expecting to lose and come back next year … “

The five-star wing has a visit to Kansas this weekend and has a visit scheduled to Texas following his Indiana visit. At the moment, those three schools seem to be the main players in his recruitment. Oklahoma is another program that continues to push hard for McNeeley but is trailing. 

This will be McNeeley’s second official visit to Indiana. Texas will also be receiving a second trip. 

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

At the moment, those are the three official visits scheduled and with the high school preseason starting before you know it, they could be the final three visits for the talented wing. 

According to Samad Himes of Grind Hoops, McNeeley is eyeing a decision before the high school season begins.

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

Currently, the 6-foot-6 wing is ranked No. 8 in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. 

SEE ALSO: Montverde Academy trio are ‘key visits’ for Indiana basketball, which could jumpstart 2024 recruiting class

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