Liam McNeeley - NBA Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

McNeeley is a plug-and-play forward in the NBA. He plays well within the flow of an offense and has experience playing with other very talented players at the high school and college levels. When McNeeley missed time with an injury at UConn, his team looked notably different. His shooting numbers from 3-point range don't tell the full story.

The Big East Freshman of the Year ticks several boxes for teams, including his size, feel, physical playing style and ability to score in various ways. His ultimate draft position will likely hinge on how teams view him as a shooter after converting 31.7% from beyond the arc on 5.4 attempts per game last season. But he had a good showing at the combine in the 3-point star drill, connecting on 15-of-25 attempts on Tuesday. McNeeley could rise up draft boards with productive team workouts.

McNeeley had an impactful freshman season for the Huskies, but his role wasn't all that actualized for what he's capable of doing. McNeeley averaged 14.5 points but shot just 38 percent from the field and 32 percent from 3 this year despite a reputation that would make you believe he is a serious shooter. He often ended up playing on the ball when his best role — as seen by when he played with Flagg, Queen and a star-studded team at Montverde (Fla.) Academy in high school — is off the ball. McNeeley drilled 43 percent of his unguarded catch-and-shoot 3s for UConn. However, only about 40 percent of his attempts off the catch were open looks. He also only hit 13 percent of his pull-up 3s because he struggles to separate with his handle. NBA teams love McNeeley's competitiveness and his character. There's a real belief that once a team gets him into the right role, you'll see the jumper get back to the elite level it was in high school.

Pro Comparison: Keegan Murray

NBA teams have envisioned a clear picture of what Liam McNeeley offers and what he doesn't.

His spot-up shooting, off-screen scoring and transition finishing should translate first and get the most use. He should eventually provide some ball-screen handling with the ability to attack downhill and make passing reads.

The athletic and defensive limitations just make it difficult to envision star-caliber upside, and he'll need to grow his pull-up game to pose more of a threat offensively. A 43.9 two-point percentage is relatively concerning if we're talking about a lottery pick.

Scouting report: McNeeley's size, shotmaking prowess, feel for the game and toughness are critical attributes that NBA teams value at the wing position, but he will need to remind them of his winning qualities throughout the predraft process. He had a few big moments as a freshman at UConn but struggled to score efficiently, converting 44% of his 2-pointers and 32% of his 3-pointers while looking out of position defensively at times.

He will likely be asked to play a different role in the NBA, leaning more heavily into his ability as a dynamic perimeter shooter, which was more evident in other settings before college. Strong workouts will be important for McNeeley to remind teams of what made him so highly regarded entering the season, especially with his shooting, the foundation of his NBA appeal. -- Givony

NBA intel and fit: Advancing out of the play-in tournament meant Miami lost its lottery-protected first-round pick (No. 15) to Oklahoma City -- a remnant of the 2019 offseason trade to acquire Jimmy Butler III. Sending Butler to Golden State six years later secured this pick, an opportunity for the front office to again showcase its talent evaluation skills after finding considerable success in the draft over the years.

The Heat conveying their 2025 first-rounder and extinguishing their draft capital obligations to Oklahoma City (the pick was slated to be unprotected in 2026) frees them to take any direction they want this offseason, perhaps with an eye on the talent-rich top of next year's draft. -- Givony

McNeeley was identified as a potential lottery pick during his high school career at Montverde where he played alongside fellow first-round picks Flagg, Queen, and Newell (as well as BYU point guard Robert Wright II). He was supposed to be one of the best shooters and smartest offensive processors in this class, but that didn't really come to fruition during his freshman season at UConn. McNeeley only hit 31.7 percent of his threes, and generally struggled with physicality at both ends of the floor. An ankle injury slowed him down a bit and took away his chance to build momentum this season. The movement shooting and close-out attacking that looked so promising on his high school tape should still be in there, but his limited athleticism will be tough to overcome.

McNeeley's uninspiring percentages from 3 this season did not at all match what we'd seen from him in the past. But his stroke is beautiful, so I still believe in his shooting. Questions remain about his balance and comfort when surrounded by traffic, but he'd still be a great get for the Jazz, who desperately need a shooter with McNeeley's potential.

McNeeley is a winner who adds toughness, passing, shooting and energy as a wing who can do a little of everything. He played out of his natural position at times this season with UConn and was thrust into a facilitating role, but it helped showcase his skill as a downhill weapon who can see the floor and function in the NBA as a secondary creator.

The Magic ranked 25th in 3-point attempts and last in percentage. It'd be a shocker if they didn't draft someone who can shoot at this spot. McNeeley is a sharpshooting wing with superb instincts moving with the ball, and the touch to splash from deep ranges. Though he doesn't project as a primary shot creator, his feel as a connective passer gives him the skill to fit into any type of offense.