The UConn Huskies have a long-standing tradition of producing NBA-caliber talent. That was the case again this season, even though they didn’t live up to their own standards.
The Charlotte Hornets took Liam McNeeley with the 29th pick in the first round, and while he had a somewhat disappointing freshman year after the sky-high expectations, he’s a promising and intriguing player.
More than that, he knows he might hold an edge over most of his rookie colleagues. In a recent interview, he claimed that Coach Dan Hurley prepared him for this moment.
Liam McNeeley says his days at UConn will make his NBA transition easier
“Yeah, you know, all the old UConn players have said the UConn practices are harder than NBA games, so I got a little taste of that. Coach Hurley, that’s my guy. I love him,” McNeeley said after his first Summer League game.
If his first taste of NBA action was an indicator of what’s to come, the Hornets may have landed one of the steals of the NBA Draft, as he dominated with 22 points and 12 boards off the bench.
McNeeley recently revealed that he played through an injury that hurt his shot-making last season, and he’s now looking forward to putting what he learned at UConn to good use.
