The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1547338
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2026 ■ 29 briefly attended Napa (Calif.) Prolific Prep before returning in time for bas- ketball season. McNeil, who is the only known D-I prospect Richmond High has pro- duced, became a hometown hero by the time he departed high school as a four-star recruit in the 2024 cycle. "It's special, man," Richmond coach Donald Pettigrew told The Wolfpacker during his senior season. "It's a bless- ing to have him. Having his last year, he's from here, being home. All the kids watch him. It's amazing, how he is with kids. That's one thing about him that people don't realize. He's so unselfish." Although McNeil isn't donning his high school's green and gold on the court anymore, rather becoming a stalwart in the Wolfpack's red and white, it's not lost on him who he's playing for each night. In short, he's doing everything he can to shine a light on Rockingham, a community where many are unable to reach the levels of success that Mc- Neil has to this point in his life. "We don't get chances at all. We don't get a chance. I'm from Richmond County and I've got a chance? I've got to take advantage of that chance. I've got to appreciate that chance. Thank God for that chance," McNeil said. "We've got a lot of good kids, but the spotlight isn't down there. It's a country town, kind of small. The spotlight isn't down there, so I'm doing it for the whole city." Navigating The Transfer Portal McNeil didn't feel the need to take a nationwide tour of official visits like most prospects of his caliber as a high school recruit. While he had programs all over the country in pur- suit of his services, McNeil only took one: NC State. Kevin Keatts and his staff did all they needed to do while hosting McNeil in February 2023. He was going to be just 90 miles from home, a perfect balance of going off to the big city while still having a feeling of Rockingham a short drive away. He committed the next day. Although McNeil didn't test the transfer portal waters after his fresh- man season when Keatts was fired and Will Wade arrived, he had a ré- McNeil tied NC State's single-season record with 105 three-pointers in 2025-26, while averaging 13.8 points and shooting an ACC- leading 42.7 percent from beyond the arc. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS