The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1547338
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2026 ■ 31 about the 20-year-old that he didn't know going into the conversations. Some of the talks were about basket- ball and how Gainey believed he and his staff could develop McNeil or a possible legacy if he continued his career with the Wolfpack. Other times, however, the rising junior opened up about his family and background growing up just over 90 minutes from Raleigh, looking to take care of his mother throughout much of his upbringing. T h e a p p r o a c h taken by Gainey and his staff seemed to be a critical part of how McNeil evalu- ated where he wanted to be. And, in the end, they built enough of a bond that he was prepared to run through a brick wall for the Wolfpack again. "The coaching staff did a really good job at presenting themselves as humans to Paul and meeting him where he is. They understood it was a very interesting dynamic. He's had three coaches in three years of college, that's a very tough ask," Gaskins said. "They did a really good job. Paul's one of those kids where he has to grow with you. Once he gets that trust factor with you, he's locked in. They did a really good job of fast-tracking that process of gaining his trust this summer." For McNeil, there was a sense of di- vine intervention since he will now fi- nally get to play for Gainey years after the two first met. "It's kind of like it was meant to be," McNeil said. "I feel like it's just God's plan. He made the right choice. It worked out." Prepared For Another Leap McNeil wants to be crystal clear. He has no hard feelings for Keatts or Wade. Both coaches gave him an opportunity: The former signed him to play in college, while the latter took the training wheels off the three-point sniper and showed every- thing he can do from deep last season. But, make no mistake about it, going through multiple coaching changes isn't the easiest thing to do for anyone — es- pecially McNeil. "Being a kid, it kind of breaks you. It breaks your heart, it breaks your whole body," McNeil said. "Why does every- body keep leaving? It's another new team. What's going on with the pro- gram? It also shows other people that I am loyal to the school I'm at." Gainey, however, provides stability. He's not looking to dart for an SEC pro- gram after one season since the expec- tation is for the former Wolfpack point guard to be the program's coach for the long haul. And the 22nd guide in NC State his- tory is off to a quality start in helping McNeil grow even more going into his critical junior season. "I promised him that I wasn't going to put him in a box and we'd continue to always develop him and get better. He understood what that meant," Gainey said. "It's just been fun watching him develop through this process. It hasn't always been smooth, either. That's a part of development, but it's the will- ingness to be coached and the wanting to learn that has really excited me about Paul in this next phase." McNeil has been focused on getting in better shape to take on an even heavier workload on both ends of the floor, while also refining his on-ball defense and working to be- come a three-level scorer that can get to the rim with ease since opposing teams will look to run him off the three-point line this season. There's still a lot of room for McNeil to grow on the court. His defense offers the biggest opportunity for improve- ment, but with a coach that demands the most from his players on that end, it seems that McNeil has taken that to heart over the past few months. "If you want to get to the next level, you've got to defend. I understand that," McNeil said. "If I don't defend, there's no next level. That's how I see it. I've got to defend. I take more pride in defend- ing than scoring the ball just because of what [Gainey] installed in my brain." McNeil has high hopes for this year. An ACC championship is at the top of the list, and so is a deep run in the NCAA Tourna- ment. If either (or both) of those goals is to come true, McNeil will be a critical reason why. This is his team. He's going to be a key leader of the squad, while also becoming even more of a fan favorite. Returning to the only college program he's ever known was a key part of his decision-making this offseason. He's grown close with former NC State star TJ Warren, whose two-season Wolfpack career eventually earned him an hon- ored No. 24 jersey. McNeil sees himself in Warren, who was the face of the Wolfpack squads he led before becoming a 2014 first-round pick. Why can't McNeil be the next pro- gram star? "Paul looks at it as it's in his grasp and it's tangible for him without it being self- ish," Gaskins said. "He knows it's right there. … He has an opportunity to stamp his name in a legacy at NC State." ■ " It's kind of like it was meant to be. I feel like it's just God's plan." McNeil on playing for Justin Gainey A Rockingham, N.C., native, McNeil hopes to inspire his hometown while becoming a more complete player. Improving his defense and expanding his scoring repertoire are priorities entering his junior season. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS