NCAA Basketball: Analyzing top 6 teams for 5-star forward Liam McNeeley

There are not a ton of players in the 2024 NCAA Basketball recruiting class that would be considered “five-star” prospects. But one that has a consensus view is Liam McNeeley, a 6’7 combo forward from Richardson, Texas.

What makes him such an intriguing prospect is that he’s incredibly capable on the perimeter, making him the perfect stretch four for small-ball lineups. McNeeley is viewed as an already elite shooter but can handle and pass the ball, while also being a solid athlete. While there may be some players with higher ceilings, it’s hard to envision this player being a bust at the college level.

There are now six programs reportedly in the mix to land McNeeley. But which of them makes the most sense? Here’s how would view each potential situation.

Alabama Crimson Tide

If the Crimson Tide wasn’t a contender for McNeeley before, seeing Brandon Miller become a 20 ppg All-American wing this past season certainly helps. Coach Nate Oats has a consistently good offensive system and a ton of offensive production has been lost this offseason so they’ll be busy with the 2024 class no matter what.

With Aaron Estrada and Mark Sears leaving after next season, look for the frontcourt to once again be the focal point of Alabama’s offense. McNeeley will have the chance to be a key part of that and if he has a big first year, can also go pro early.

Indiana Hoosiers

The Hoosiers have completely revamped its frontcourt this offseason, adding multiple five-star prospects. One of them is Mackenzie Mgbako, a former Duke commit and projected “one and done” player at the small forward position.

If Mgbako doesn’t leave early, that could create a potential logjam for someone like McNeeley when it comes to his expected minutes. It’s not the end of the world and Indiana could move things around if the recruit wanted to go to Indiana. But this is also an option that may take some time to see how viable it is from a roster perspective.