The roar of Madison Square Garden still echoes from December 2024, when freshman phenom Liam McNeeley dropped 26 points on Gonzaga. That game marked the highest individual scoring performance of the season for Dan Hurley’s team. His fearless drives and clutch threes made him the ‘lottery-level problem solver’ in high-stakes moments. Two months later, McNeeley’s absence has left a gaping 6’7″ hole in UConn’s lineup – until now.
McNeeley, who missed 8 games due to a high ankle sprain suffered on January 1, earned a spot on the Julius Erving Award Midseason Top 10 list (February 5), which honors the nation’s best small forwards. His pre-injury stats are impressive: 13.6 PPG (3rd on the team), 5.8 RPG (2nd).
Coach Dan Hurley called him “a two-way player doing more than any freshman in America” before the injury, with UConn operating at a “top-12 level” when he played.
UConn’s Liam McNeeley was named to the Midseason Top 10 for the Julius Erving small forward award despite missing the last 8 games. McNeeley is expected to return Friday.
— Joe Arruda (@joearruda9) February 5, 2025
McNeeley’s anticipated return February 7 against No. 12 St. John’s (19-3, 10-1 Big East) couldn’t be timelier. The Red Storm lead the conference, while UConn (16-6, 8-3) aims to close a two-game gap.
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