Kentucky is in contact with a five-star who recently decommitted from Indiana
Kentucky already has six members of the 2024 recruiting class, but Coach Calipari is still after a few different players.
Kentucky's class is currently ranked number two in college hoops behind Duke, but the Wildcats have a ton of talent coming to campus next season, just as the Blue Devils do. Kentucky's most recent commit is five-star Karter Knox, who chose the Wildcats over Louisville and Overtime Elite.
Now, Coach Calipari is after a player who recently decommitted from the Indiana Hoosiers. That player is five-star small forward Liam McNeeley, who recently received a release from his NLI and is now looking for a new school to call home. According to Travis Branham of 247Sports, Kentucky is one of the schools that has reached out to McNeeley since his NLI release from Indiana. Watching McNeeley play, it's clear he will be a star in college thanks to his ability to shoot the basketball. He has beautiful shooting form, and his 6'7 height will help him shoot over contests. McNeeley is ranked as the number 15 player in 247Sports composite rankings, and it's clear why watching the tape.
Adam Finkelstein 247Sports's Director of Scouting had this to say about McNeeley, "Liam McNeeley has one of the best combinations of skill and basketball acumen in the national class. He came up the ranks known as a shooter – and for good reason as he has clean mechanics, a compact release, and shot over 40% from behind the three-point line in both the NIBC and EYBL seasons – but he’s far more versatile than just a specialist. He’s particularly adept at coming off screens, making instinctual reads, and then attacking defenders while they are on the move. That can mean movement threes, but it can also mean curls, dribble penetration, and an ability to get downhill at times. McNeeley has a high natural feel for the game and is a good passer who can also facilitate for others around him. In fact, Montverde frequently made him the featured player of their half-court offense during his junior season and relied on his ability to make decisions with the ball in his hands, not necessarily as a primary ball-handler, but as the first domino in many of their actions. Physically, he’s not especially long or athletic, but he has legit size at over 6-foot-7 with his shoes on, a sturdy base, and increasingly strong and cut upper body. He’s made strides being able to stay in front of more athletic wings on the defensive end, in large part because he’s aware enough to be in the right spots and take the right angles. Overall, McNeeley may not have the ideal physical measurables of a prototypical five-star prospect, but he is one of the most consistently productive and reliable basketball players in the class."
Many big-name schools have reached out to McNeeley since his decommitment from Indiana, so it will be interesting to see who gains the services of this talented shooter. Coach Calipari is going to make a push at McNeeley, who would take Kentucky's 2024 recruiting class from great to elite.
