“I really haven't done anything”: Liam McNeeley gets abrupt realisation about UConn’s back-to-back national titles
Freshman Liam McNeeley understands the UConn culture he represents in his first college season, but he also knows he has yet to earn his place in the program's rich history. In an exclusive with ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, McNeeley discussed the Huskies' mindset and aspirations for the 2024-25 season.
McNeeley initially began his response with "We" but quickly addressed it as "UConn".
"We - UConn has won back-to-back national championships and if it's anything short of a national championship, it's a failure," McNeeley said. "That's just the culture I want to be around. The theme he (Dan Hurley) implemented was dynasty."
"He's talked about that a couple of times and he had the definition for us up on the board. That's just the culture. Championship or nothing."
When asked about his change in phrasing, McNeeley reflected on his mindset and his desire to contribute individually to the team's success.
"I really haven't done anything. My slate is clean. I can't take credit for those two national championships, but I do want to take credit for one."
Liam McNeeley, a top-10 recruit in the 2024 class, joined UConn after initially committing to Indiana before re-entering the recruitment process and choosing to play for Dan Hurley’s program. A product of Montverde Academy in Florida, he also brings significant experience playing alongside stars like Derik Queen and Cooper Flagg. He also has the potential to be another one-and-done player at UConn, and he’s eager to help continue the program's championship tradition.
Liam McNeeley has already made his mark on college basketball
Even before his first official college basketball game, Liam McNeeley was named to the 2025 Julius Erving Award watchlist. The prestigious annual award recognizes the best small forward in the Division I circuit. McNeeley, a five-star freshman, joins an exclusive group of 20 players, with the list set to be narrowed down to a select few candidates in the middle of the season.
McNeeley was also named on the watchlist for the Naismith Player of the Year award, alongside his UConn teammate Alex Karaban and high school teammate Cooper Flagg. The freshman was also named the preseason Big East Freshman of the Year.