NC State Basketball
Looking to Next Year: 4-Star SF Paul McNeil Jr. Will Make an Instant Impact
The 2023-24 College Basketball season has come to a close, and NC State fans are riding high after the Wolfpack’s miraculous run to the Final Four.
The Wolfpack will certainly have players transfer out, and others transfer in, but one player we know will be in Raleigh next year is 4-Star 2024 Small Forward Paul McNeil (6’7”/185).
McNeil verbally committed to run with the Wolfpack on February 19th of last year.
ON3 ranks McNeil as the #49 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class, the #15 Small Forward, and the #6 player on the state of NC.
As a Senior at Richmond (Rockingham, NC), McNeil averaged 31.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.6 assists per game.
He led them to the semifinals of the NCHSAA 4A State Playoffs, losing to #1 seed New Hanover 55-53.
On January 16th, McNeil scored 71 points in Richmond’s 118-52 win over Lee County, breaking the state record for points scored in a single game that had stood for the past 74 years.
For his career, McNeil scored 2,429 points, which ranks 14th in the history of High School basketball in the state of North Carolina.
McNeil is an absolute bucket, and his stroke from beyond the arc is impressive, making 40% this season. As a Senior this year, McNeil made 110 three-pointers in 30 games. For perspective, DJ Horne just broke NC State’s single-season record, making 105 in 40 games.
To be quite honest, we have no idea what the roster is going to look like come next season, but if the season were to start today, with the players that can return, I wouldn’t be surprised to see McNeil in the starting lineup at the 2 or the 3. If he doesn’t start, he will be an impact player. He’s too good not to be a significant contributor.
PackPride.com says: “Quite simply, the 2023-24 team changed the entire trajectory of the Wolfpack program with trophies, nets and banners no one can ever take away”. This is not a given until proven next season. One freak year does not change trajectory unless it is followed by a similar response again. Waiting for next year and the transfer portal results.
Can he play defense? That is the question. I can see Woods and Pass transferring. Hopefully MJ Rice and Ross stays and contributes. That would leave three more transfers to fill in the gaps.