Indiana lands commitment from 5-star forward Liam McNeeley - ESPN

Five-star small forward Liam McNeeley announced his commitment to Indiana on Sunday, giving Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers a huge win on the recruiting trail.

Indiana beat out Kansas for McNeeley's pledge, although Texas was also heavily involved until recent weeks. It's a statement commitment for the Hoosiers, who extended an offer to the sharpshooting wing in the spring of 2022 and maintained a steady pursuit over the last 18 months.

«Indiana has been recruiting me the longest and they have been the most consistent,» McNeeley told ESPN. «They have never wavered during the process. That has meant a lot to me.»

«The fans are crazy,» he added. «They have shown up to my games all over the country.»

A 6-foot-7 small forward from Texas who attends Montverde Academy (Florida), McNeeley comes from a basketball family: His mother, two uncles, grandfather and great-grandfather all played Division-I college basketball. McNeeley is ranked No. 13 in the ESPN 100 for the class of 2024.

«Coach Woodson played at IU and won a national championship under Coach [Bob] Knight then went on to play in the NBA. He has done what I want to do,» McNeeley said. «My goal is winning a national championship, to be drafted and play in the NBA. I believe his experience can help me attain those goals. I am also excited to learn from coach Calbert Cheaney, who is now on staff. Their plan is to have me in spots to utilize my versatility and have me involved in ball screens and coming off screens.»

McNeeley averaged 16.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17 games on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring and summer, shooting 37.5% from 3-point range. He's also represented USA Basketball at the U16 level, averaging 5.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in six games at the FIBA