Just over a week out from the 2025 NBA Draft, projections for UConn one-and-done star Liam McNeeley haven’t moved much.
The 6-foot-7 forward is expected by most draft experts to hear his name called shortly after the lottery. McNeeley wasn’t among the initial wave of 13 green room invites sent out by the NBA last week, but he did reportedly receive his invitation on Monday to attend the draft in Brooklyn with his family.
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor seems to be a bit of an outlier with his prediction that McNeeley will join another former UConn star, Donovan Clingan, with the Portland Trail Blazers’ 11th overall pick. His projection is based largely on McNeeley’s 3-point shooting ability, which he showed off in high school as one of the best shooters in his class but struggled to find consistency with at UConn, shooting just 31.7% on 5.4 3-point attempts per game.
“NBA teams love McNeeley’s competitiveness and his character,” Sam Vecenie wrote for The Athletic. “There’s a real belief that once a team gets him into the right role, you’ll see the jumper get back to the elite level it was in high school.’
The consensus mock draft on NBA.com has McNeeley’s former Montverde Academy teammate Derik Queen, BYU forward Egor Denim or Michigan State guard Jase Richardson as the Portland’s most likely options with the pick.
Three of McNeeley’s high school teammates: Queen, Asa Newell and, of course, consensus No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, were among the first wave of green room invitees.
McNeeley’s name is most projected to be called anywhere from the 15th pick to the 19th pick in the first round. He would be UConn’s fourth first-round pick in the last three years, joining Jordan Hawkins (14th overall, 2023), Clingan (7th overall, 2024) and reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle (4th overall, 2024).
The NBADraft.net projection has McNeeley as the 15th overall pick of the western conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder, where UConn ties are with head coach Mark Daigneault, a former student manager under Jim Calhoun.
Sports Illustrated’s Nick Crain has McNeeley slotted at No. 17 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo has McNeeley as the “best value” pick for the Washington Wizards at No. 18, and Jonathan Givony has McNeeley as the “pick that fills the biggest need” for the Brooklyn Nets at No. 19. Both The Athletic and Matt Norlander at CBS Sports also have the Richardson, Texas native moving to Brooklyn.
“He’d work for the Nets as a shooter and floor-spacer, something every rebuilding team needs on the wing,” Vecenie wrote.
Brooklyn hasn’t had a winning season since 2022-23. The Nets signed former UConn star Tyrese Martin to a two-year deal last season after he impressed on a two-way contract.
“A mid-season ankle injury threatened his draft stock a bit, but McNeeley’s made up ground the past couple of months and is now viewed as a top-20 prospect in the eyes of many. Brooklyn could use his toughness streak, in addition to his shooting and vocal proclivities. Has the smarts and hoops DNA to stick long-term in the NBA,” Norlander wrote.
“McNeeley didn’t have as consistent of a season at UConn as some had hoped, but he has proved himself in other settings and has the type of work ethic, competitiveness and feel for the game to maximize his potential long term,” Givony wrote.
The first round of the NBA Draft will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on June 25.
Originally Published: June 16, 2025 at 3:52 PM EDT
