Can the Hornets Summer League Standout Be a Darkhorse Candidate for ROTY?
When the Charlotte Hornets drafted Kon Knueppel with the fourth overall pick in June’s NBA Draft, the Hornets knew what type of player he was going to be. When they drafted Liam McNeeley with the 29th pick in the draft, many experts were surprised that he lasted that long, and when they saw his performance in the Summer League, those same experts said that the Hornets might have gotten the steal of the draft. The former UConn power forward scored 18 points while shooting 40 percent from three-point range during his two-game stretch in the Summer League. The only thing that held him back was an Achilles injury that he suffered in Vegas. Charlotte remains optimistic about his injury; however, if McNeeley recovers in time and he remains consistent throughout the season, he could shock everyone by emerging as a Rookie of the Year candidate.
Throughout the history of the NBA, only four players have won the Rookie of the Year Award after being selected outside the top 10 in the draft. The last player to do it was Malcolm Brogdon in 2016-17. McNeeley’s stock rose during his time in Vegas, and once he recovers from his injury, he should compete for minutes coming off the bench in the Queen City. His greatest strength is his outside shooting; however, the five-star recruit shot a measly 31 percent from long-range during his lone season at UConn. That concern might be a reason that contributed to his draft night slide. However, that slide might have been Charlotte’s biggest gain that night, and in the Summer League, he put those concerns to rest.
Outside of his long-range shooting, McNeeley is also a great rebounder. He averaged six rebounds a game as a freshman last year and recorded an impressive 12 rebounds in the Summer League. The Texas native’s ability to grab boards will be critical for a Hornets team that is lacking a true, consistent center this season. If this skill set could transfer over to the Association, McNeeley could make mask one of the Hornet’s biggest flaws. The 19-year-old also has a high basketball IQ that could help boost his production during his rookie year. With his ability to shoot the long ball at a high level, getting rebounds at a high clip, and his high basketball intelligence, he should help the former McDonald’s All-American supplant himself in the Rookie of the Year race, but he has to be consistent. Hornets fans knew that they drafted someone who could compete for Rookie of the Year in Knueppel. Now, fans know that they have someone else who can steadily enter the race throughout the NBA season.
