Numerous blue blood programs after 5-star Liam McNeeley following decommitment from Indiana basketball

The Indiana basketball program lost its lone commit in the class of 2024 earlier this month with Liam McNeeley and while he has yet to make any public comments, there have been mixed reactions to why he ultimately decided to open up his recruitment.

Sources told HoosierIllustrated.com that the style of play that Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson consistently ran was not conducive to a successful career for McNeeley, who has aspirations of being a one-and-done prospect. Already, McNeeley is projected as a first round selection in the 2025 NBA Draft.

With a five-star talent like McNeeley, there is likely not one exact reason as to why he would look elsewhere, but at the end of the day — the offensive system didn’t help Indiana’s cause. And, unfortunately for Indiana, McNeeley had the skillset that was not only going to help immediately, but also make others around him better.

“I just think it’s going to be a major plus for our program because he can really shoot the basketball, and we don’t really have that right now,” Woodson said during his weekly radio show in December “It was something missing that we needed, and we got to go out and continue to find kids who can make shots.

“He does all the necessary things on and off the floor but I just like the fact that he competes. He likes to compete. He can shoot the ball. He can pass the ball. He handles the basketball. There’s a lot of quality things that he does on the floor and we’re fortunate enough to get him … I’ll put it this way, I think he’s college ready from a physical standpoint.”

McNeeley is a 6-foot-7 wing who has been one of the most efficient and effective all-around players over the last two years.

This season for Montverde Academy (Fla.), McNeeley is averaging 12.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. He is also shooting 46 percent (58-of-126) from three. In NIBC games alone, he is leading the league at 45.9 percent on 2.3 made 3s per game.

Last season, McNeeley averaged 13.7 points and was second in the NIBC averaging 2.2 made 3s per game. Over the summer playing for the 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).

So, while Indiana basketball is in the middle of the transfer portal, with heavy involvement with a handful or prospects, what’s next for McNeeley?

There will be no reunion with Indiana, rather a handful of other programs have shown interest as expected.

According to 247Sports National Basketball Analyst Travis Branham, programs such as UConn, Kentucky, Gonzaga, Houston, Tennessee, Auburn, and Florida have been among the teams to jump into his recruitment that weren’t major players previously. Kansas, who Indiana beat out for McNeeley the first go-around, is still heavily involved.

There isn’t expected to be a decision from McNeeley in the immediate future as he’s focused on the Chipotle Nationals Championship taking place in Brownsburg (Ind.) next month.

McNeeley is ranked as the No. 15 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

SEE ALSO: Indiana Basketball Transfer Tracker — Who’s leaving? Who’s coming? Other names to monitor

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