WATCH: Paul McNeil: ‘If You Want to Play, You’ve Got to Hit Shots

Sophomore Guard Paul McNeil spoke with the media today at NC State Men’s Basketball’s 2025-26 Media Day. You can watch the video above, and read the transcript below.

Tell me a little about the coaching change.

Coach Wade definitely put a new program for us. There’s a lot of more energy here.

It’s a lot more structure. We understand that what he’s trying to do is win and have fun. The whole culture has changed since I’ve been here.

There’s more structure here, but what does that look like on a day-to-day basis?

Just getting our individual work in, time schedule, not being late, being on time to everything, being early to everything. Last year was just a little more, you know, not so structured, but it was still good for us.

As far as the play level, what have you been able to notice from your teammates and where you think you guys could possibly be?

Definitely got some shooters on the team this year.

Got a lot of size, can defend the ball well, got a lot of room for this year, got a lot of length, so that’s going to help us out a lot this year.

What’s the reason why you chose to come back to NC State?

I love North Carolina. I’m well known here. I feel like I’m home, and I’m going to stay where I feel like I’m home at.

What’s your room of growth this year for you as an individual player?

Defending the ball. Last year I know I struggled with defending and being quick on my feet, so a lot of my workouts have been defensively getting stops and rebounding the ball well.

Coach talked about how you shot 46% this summer from three. Talk about how you grew in your shooting percentages.

I’m just getting older. I’ve got to stay ready. I’ve got to hit shots. If you want to play, you’ve got to hit shots, so that’s really been my mindset going into my Sophomore year.

You’re one of the leftover guys from last year. What have you noticed in terms of confidence in this program this year as opposed to last year?

I really believe it’s our GAs that help build our confidence, just getting extra work in, stand out there. They don’t get paid that much, so when they do get extra work in with us, I really cherish the moments and it just helped me build my confidence up. The coaching staff talks to me every day about just staying confident.

How different is this team than the one you played on last year?

We definitely are more together. We’ve bonded way more. We get to do Navy SEALs, things like that. We’re really close this year, more than we were last year.

Coach talked about losing body fat and also increasing muscle mass. Talk about that and how you’ve developed.

It’s been hard for me, honestly. It really broke me off in the weight room, so that’s the hardest part for me, but I got adjusted to it and used to it. Knowing I’ve got to get bigger, I want to play at this level, so that’s really been my mindset going into every day in the weight room. Getting bigger, stronger and eating more.

Going through the highs and lows, battling adversity last season, your decision to return to NC State. How will your game transition this year?

They believe in me more. I’ve got a lot of coaches that believe in me, a lot of guys that’s pushing me, so I’ll definitely be better off this year.

Will (Wade) seems to be a confident coach. Has that rubbed off?

It’s definitely rubbed off. He’s the head honcho of this team.

What does it mean for you to see him out there doing the Navy SEAL drills?

I’ve got to do it, you know what I’m saying? That boosts my confidence. If he can do it, I can do it.

I saw him fall on the face in the mud.

Yeah, that was crazy. I ain’t never did that before in my life. That was the craziest part for me.