The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1540860
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025 ■ 25 it. Although he had played double-digit minutes in only five of the Pack's previ- ous 26 games, he felt like his performance against the Demon Deacons was a glimpse at what he could be doing with regularity if given the opportunity. "I was like, 'That's supposed to hap- pen,'" McNeil recalled. "I was happy be- cause I actually did it. I had dreams where you wake up and it's not real. I really had dreams of me doing something like that. It actually happened, so it felt real at that moment. But my mindset is always like that for every game." McNeil paced NC State to an 85- 73 upset win over an in-state rival, and in the process he showcased his potential at the collegiate level. It's what first-year coach Will Wade hopes to see this season from the No. 54 recruit in the 2024 cycle. But in order for McNeil to unlock that attitude every night, he's had to work on himself first. This past offseason was critical for Mc- Neil — both personally and as a basketball player. He's in a better spot on both fronts now. He's not doubting himself like he was for parts of last season. Instead, McNeil heads into the 2025-26 campaign with a purpose. A Learning Experience Social media is a powerful tool. It can connect people around the world with one click of a computer keyboard or tap of a smartphone screen. The various plat- forms can deliver news in an instant, but they're also full of random opinions that are best ignored. Although many athletes say they don't pay attention to what's said about them on social media, it's tough for those in college to completely disengage. McNeil was one who couldn't stay away. The Rockingham, N.C., native read everything that was be- ing said about him. Many NC State fans wanted to see him play more, and they directed their com- plaints at then-coach Kevin Keatts. That only made McNeil feel worse about riding the bench for the first time in his deco- rated basketball career. He held the North Carolina single-game scoring record with 71 points against Lee County in his final season at Richmond Senior, but he couldn't get on the court for a Wolfpack team that was struggling in ACC play. "I had a lot of noise in my ear," McNeil admitted. "I was always looking for at- tention, seeking attention sometimes. … "It was tough. I was always thinking I should be playing. I wanted to play. Every player thinks they should play. I saw social media and how I should be playing more." McNeil was also shuttling back and forth just over 90 miles to his hometown at every opportunity. Instead of putting in extra time inside the Dail Basketball Cen- ter, he would drive home to see his mother whenever he had free time as a freshman. It was a difficult balancing act, espe- cially during the critical training part of the schedule last summer. McNeil is a homebody, as evidenced by his short time at Prolific Prep in Napa, Calif., which ended after just four games when he re- turned to Richmond Senior for the 2022- 23 season. Even though he was trying to create a bigger role for himself at NC State, he felt as though his family needed him at home as much as possible. "I had a lot of family problems," McNeil said. "My momma doesn't really talk to a lot of people, in general. I'm all she's got. So, being a young man as a man of the house, I really feel like I was doing my job. I was doing my role and playing my part in being the man of my family." Eventually, McNeil was able to find the right balance with help from his AAU coaches at Garner Road, including former NBA standout David West. That peace of mind showed in his play at the end of the season. In NC State's final six games, Mc- Neil averaged 9.8 points — on 41.5 percent shooting — and added 2.3 rebounds in 17.8 minutes. After Wade succeeded Keatts in March, McNeil was determined to stay with the Wolfpack. His new coach was willing to keep him around, and he ended up being the only scholarship player from the 2024- 25 team to stick with the Pack. With the new coaching staff in place, McNeil seemed to take a step forward in his own maturation. He learned from his struggles as a freshman, stayed on campus over the summer and focused on making the improvements he knew he would need if his dream of playing in the NBA some- day was to become a reality. Instead of heading back to Rockingham at every opportunity, McNeil turned Raleigh into a " home away from home." Wade, who has a reputation for helping his play- ers grow as people off the floor, said McNeil's personal development will be critical this season. "He's really matured off the court," the coach said. "I think he learned a lot from his freshman year. Credit to him for taking the right lessons from his freshman year in understanding what college basketball is about. "I think him just being more rock solid and having more of a foundation off the court has really, really helped him on the court. He's excited about the year. He's ex- cited about being here. He loves the Pack. We're very pleased with his progress." Ready To Break Out McNeil practically lived in the Wolf- pack's practice gym this summer. He made the Dail Basketball Center his workplace, treating the game like a full-time job. Im- proving his jump shot was top of mind, and McNeil could be seen on the team's practice court at all hours of the day. It's clear what Wade and the staff hope to get from McNeil this season: an effi- cient three-point shooter who can use his length defensively to switch onto vari- ous guards and wings. With that in mind, the 6-foot-5, 190-pound guard needed to improve on his 35.6 percent mark from three-point range as a freshman. McNeil saw tangible progress through- out the offseason, and he put it to use in the Wolfpack's five-on-five scrimmages " I think him just being more rock solid and having more of a foundation off the court has really, really helped him on the court. He's excited about the year. He's excited about being here. He loves the Pack. We're very pleased with his progress. " Coach Will Wade on McNeil