Liam McNeeley, No. 9 overall recruit in 2024, chooses UConn - ESPN

Liam McNeeley, a top-10 recruit and the best available high school prospect in 2024, has committed to UConn, he told ESPN.

«It felt like a perfect fit,» McNeeley said. «Coach Hurley is a hard-nosed coach. That's the kind of coach I thrive under. The offensive system they run is perfect for my game. The culture of the team. The sets they run. They are going to help me get better on both sides of the ball. The whole coaching staff are good people.»

McNeeley, a 6-foot-7 wing from Richardson, Texas, picked the Huskies over Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, Michigan and others. He was previously committed to Indiana, but requested his release last month.

McNeeley, ESPN's No. 9 prospect in the class of 2024, was named a McDonald's All-American after helping Montverde Academy to a perfect 33-0 season that culminated in a win in the championship game of the Chipotle High School Nationals earlier this month. He was Montverde's third-leading scorer this season behind fellow top-10 recruits Cooper Flagg and Derik Queen.

McNeeley is considered arguably the best perimeter shooter in his class, a significant weapon running off screens and pulling up off the dribble, converting 45% of his 3-pointers this season on more than five attempts per game. McNeeley, who dished out three times as many assists as turnovers, also keeps defenses honest with his ability to attack the basket and find teammates on the move, and is a highly competitive defender. He was a projected lottery pick in ESPN's first 2025 mock draft that was released in January.

«I definitely progressed throughout this season,» McNeeley said. The whole staff at Montverde and Coach [Kevin] Boyle pushed me to be more than just a shooter. My teammates trusted me to make big plays in