Former Arizona State Forward Signs NBA Summer League Contract

Jamiya Neal is attempting to carve out a professional career after spending three seasons in Tempe.

Dec 20, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils guard Jamiya Neal (5) against the Northwestern Wildcats during the Hall of Series at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports | Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

A former key player for Bobby Hurley's Arizona State basketball program has received an opportunity to break into the NBA.

2021 three-star recruit Jamiya Neal out of Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix has signed a Summer League deal with the Charlotte Hornets after spending three seasons with ASU and a singular season with Creighton.

Neal was recruited stringently by Hurley despite not receiving heavy interest elsehwere and became one of the more promising players on the team over time.

Creighton’s Jamiya Neal will join the Charlotte Hornets for NBA Summer League, I’m told.

The 6’5 ¼" guard spent three years at Arizona State before transferring to the Bluejays and thriving in a more playmaking-oriented role, more than doubling his year-over-year assist rate. pic.twitter.com/FaoGeORjgS

— Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) June 27, 2025

Neal's optimism during his time with Arizona State was unrivaled, even during times of uncertainty.

“I think we can do it."

“I think we’re very confident in ourselves, coach (Hurley) is confident in what we can do, I think if we bring it every night we can show everyone that we can be one of the best backcourts in the Pac-12.” 

Those were the words of Neal prior to a 2023-24 season that saw the Sun Devils go 14-18 - a complete reversal from the season before in which the Hillcrest prep prospect averaged 4.9 PPG during the tournament season in Tempe.

Neal took a major step forward as a junior in Tempe, averaging 11 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the disappointing Sun Devil squad, then opted to transfer to Creighton in response. He took a step forward as a playmaker in his senior year in Omaha - and has turned that into a potential at the pro level.

As for the upcoming season at hand - Hurley recognizes that things must be done differently to yield better results moving forward.

"It's one thing to say the Big 12 is a tough league, but to experience it, I figured we had to get more bodies, more size, more depth."

"We have to have better practices this year. As guys got hurt as the season progressed, we had a hard time even practicing."

Neal played a key role in Sun Devil basketball bringing a hard-nosed identity to the floor in his three seasons with the program - while it didn't always pay off, the team was better because of it.

Read more about the potential starting lineup for the 2025-26 Sun Devils here, and the arena renovations that are set to happen at the basketball arena in the coming years here.

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