Liam McNeeley full NBA Draft profile, strengths, weaknesses, best fits

However, after going 0-3 in the Maui Invitational Tournament, it became clear that this version of the Huskies would not dominate as they did in seasons prior. In March Madness, they were an eighth seed and lost to eventual champions Florida in a nailbiter by only two points. 

Despite the disappointing season, wing Liam McNeeley is ready to take his talents to the NBA. Even in a loaded 2025 NBA Draft class, McNeeley has the potential to be a lottery pick.

Here’s everything fans need to know about the presumed first-round pick before the draft lottery.

Liam McNeeley key facts

• Age/Date of Birth: 19 (October 10, 2005)

• Height/weight: 6-foot-8, 210lbs

• College: University of Connecticut Huskies

• Career stats: 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 38.1 FG%, 31.7 3PT%

• NCAA Tournament stats: 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 27.5 FG%, 18.8 3PT%

• Career highs: 38 points (vs. Creighton), 11 rebounds (vs. St. John’s, New Hampshire), 7 assists (vs. Butler)

• NBA comparison: Harrison Barnes

Liam McNeeley’s strengths

McNeeley, despite his lackluster stats in college, is expected to be a high-level shooter in the NBA, especially after he finds his footing. He made over 36% of his catch-and-shoot 3s, and in college was expected to create for himself.

In the NBA, however, he will play off the ball, where he should excel. He moves incredibly well as a shooting threat, can find the open man if his defender closes out on him, and is seemingly always open when playing next to a true facilitator.

He is not the best defender by any means, but was asked to do too much as the central part of the Huskies’ roster. In a smaller role, he should be able to defend fellow wings, although faster ones might give him a challenge.

He is not the best athlete, but is definitely serviceable and has NBA height and weight, making him ready to get reps right away, which bodes well, given that some of his weaknesses can only be fixed with practice.

Liam McNeeley’s weaknesses

It’s impossible to ignore that a player touted as a good shooter only made 31.7% of his shots from deep in college. Even with reason to believe he can fix that part of his game, there will be doubt until he proves us wrong.

He also is not the best shooter off the dribble. In college, he was tasked with creating for himself. If he plays a similar role in the NBA, he will be in trouble, but he doesn’t have the facilities to run the offense (or defense) in the NBA, so there’s not a ton to worry about there.

On defense, he should be able to hold his own against wings, but he doesn’t have the speed to shift to guards or the strength to cover bigs, so his versatility is definitely a weakness.

If the shooting arrives, all of his weaknesses will be easy to overlook, but if it doesn’t, then he will likely have a very short career.

Liam McNeeley’s best NBA fits

McNeeley plays hard-nosed, winning basketball despite some clear faults. He will not be a star, but as a middle-of-the-first-round pickup, he should be a very solid role player and have a long career.

Teams that draft him will hope the shooting comes along. The Portland Trail Blazers could use shooting, especially around Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, neither of whom are snipers.

If the Detroit Pistons trade Tobias Harris or are unable to bring back Tim Hardaway Jr. or Malik Beasley, McNeeley wouldn’t be a bad rookie replacement, and he and Ausar Thompson on the wings would give the Pistons a bit of everything.

As the San Antonio Spurs build around Jeremy Sochan, Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, and Victor Wembanayma, their only excellent young shooter is Devin Vassell. Wembanyama made only 35% of his 3s this season, which is great for a 7-foot-4 center, but adding spacing will likely be a priority.

In the NBA, you can never have enough shooting, and if McNeeley lives up to the expectations, any team would be better with him coming off the bench next season, but that’s not a guarantee.