'24 Paul McNeil, Jr. talks Clemson, NC State visits; other offers

Paul McNeil, Jr. has been trending as one of the nation’s most intriguing shooting guards in the 2024 class. The 6-foot-5 sophomore averaged 24.6 points per game this season, leading his Rockingham (NC) Richmond Senior High team to a 24-1 record on the season.

“I can do a little bit of everything on the floor,” McNeil, Jr. told On3 after a recent playoff win. “I’ve a got mindset no one can stop me; I am him, Paul McNeil, Jr. My mid-range pull-up is what I do best on the floor; that is my game. I’m playing a lot better defense this season, and my ball-handling is turning into a weapon. I watch a lot of Chris Paul. I love his mid-range game and then his passing.”

College coaches started taking note after a good summer playing with Garner Road on the Adidas 3SSB 15u circuit. Paul McNeil spoke exclusively with On3 about his recruitment and visits.

“I have six D-I offers right now,” McNeil, Jr. said. “I’ve been on unofficial visits to UNC, NC State, Wake Forest, and Clemson. Clemson and NC State offered me.”

McNeil, Jr talks recruitment

Clemson: “When I went down there, they showed me a lot about their program and how they develop guards. They showed me how I fit on the wing with how they play and what they do. The campus is beautiful, that orange and purple is nice. We talk with coach Lucas (McKay) a good bit. They have a great crowd for games.”

NC State: “It’s live there. That place is lit. The whole environment they have, I love it. I love everything about that place, coach (James) Johnson and Coach (Kevin) Keatts. Their playstyle, they let you rock out, do anything you want to with the ball.”

“I also have offers from Tennessee, Indiana, Western Carolina, and Florida State,” McNeil, Jr. said. “Georgetown, Kansas, and North Carolina are some schools that have been in contact with us recently.”

McNeil, Jr’s take

“I want to go to a place where the ball will be in my hands,” McNeil said. “There are going to be a lot of good players already playing, but I want to go somewhere that is going to let me rock out. Early playing time will be big, and I play best in a run and gun, up and down type system.”

On3’s take

Paul McNeil, Jr. is a scoring guard. Make no mistakes about it, he has buckets on his mind. Standing with a lengthy frame, he has a pure stroke with natural balance and a consistent release. He will need to continue adding strength, and with that, more athletic explosion may come as well. McNeil, Jr. has a confident pull-up jump shot, going right or left, off two dribbles. He will need to tighten up his handle in the half-court and continue to work on his footwork and reads, but the natural mentality as a scoring assassin is there.