On Wednesday afternoon, Indiana issued a press launch with the headline: “(Liam) McNeeley named highschool All-American.”
In a season stuffed with not-so-good information for this system, sharing a forward-looking, optimistic story about this system’s lone signee within the class of 2024 made excellent sense.
With its head coach underneath strain amidst an underwhelming season, Indiana noticed a possibility to spotlight how issues might get higher subsequent winter by pointing to the longer term with a McDonald’s All-American in McNeeley, who’s having the most effective seasons of any highschool participant.
Slightly greater than a day later – after information broke that Mike Woodson could be again for a fourth season – McNeeley requested for his launch from his Nationwide Letter of Intent.
It’s not unreasonable to conclude Indiana didn’t see this information coming.
If they’d, it’s unlikely McNeeley’s stats this season – 12.7 factors, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 steals per sport and 46 p.c 3-point taking pictures for the nation’s greatest highschool group – would have been shared in a launch touting his choice as a Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Excessive Faculty All American.
McNeeley’s determination to go elsewhere is a major blow. He’s one of many nation’s premier shooters and taking pictures has lengthy been a deficiency and sore spot for the fanbase underneath Woodson. Indiana now must hit a number of house runs within the portal this spring if the Hoosiers have any probability of turning issues round subsequent season.
With McNeeley’s selecting Thursday to not come to Bloomington, it’s honest to be involved about IU’s recruiting technique. Aside from Mackenzie Mgbako within the spring of 2023, Indiana has not landed a dedication from a highschool participant in practically two years. This season’s freshmen, Gabe Cupps and Jakai Newton, dedicated to the Hoosiers within the fall of 2021. Previous to Mgbako, Indiana’s final dedication from a highschool recruit was Malik Reneau within the spring of 2022. There have been loads of swings and misses, notably within the 2024 recruiting cycle when Indiana aimed for the nation’s prime prospects and repeatedly missed.
And it’s extra advanced than discovering success within the portal for Woodson, who now doesn’t have a single recruit signed within the class of 2024. The Hoosiers shall be underneath great strain to retain a number of key items from this season’s roster. Not solely does Woodson must hit on a number of high-impact gamers within the switch portal, however he additionally should retain the most effective of his present gamers that select to stay in faculty. That’s no slam dunk.
Indiana has proven a capability to thrive in such conditions underneath Woodson, however this problem appears to be like way more daunting than any which have come earlier than it.
Earlier than teaching a sport for the Hoosiers, Woodson satisfied Trayce Jackson-Davis to return to Bloomington for a 3rd season. Indiana has additionally landed a number of extremely touted signees – Tamar Bates, Reneau and Mgbako – within the spring interval.
This spring, nevertheless, the stakes are greater.
The athletic division has already voiced its intention to convey Woodson again for a fourth season. Information of Woodson’s return has met important headwinds from a fanbase displeased with this system’s trajectory.
It’s not arduous to grasp the timing of the information to convey Woodson again, although.
As rumors about Woodson’s future swirled on message boards, social media, and personal Discord servers, Indiana needed to try to regular the ship or the noise would have grown even louder with lower than two weeks till the switch portal opens.
Indiana’s endorsement of Woodson for a fourth season didn’t resonate sufficient with McNeeley, who requested out of his Nationwide Letter of Intent lower than 24 hours after.
Wednesday’s win towards Minnesota — Indiana’s third straight victory — ought to have excited the fanbase, because the Hoosiers seem like hitting their stride because the common season concludes. A fourth straight win, attainable this weekend towards Michigan State, might draw the Hoosiers again to .500 in Massive Ten play and enhance their seeding for subsequent week’s Massive Ten event.
However the good vibes from Wednesday’s blowout win had been short-lived. On Thursday, McNeeley determined to reopen his recruitment. With McNeeley’s determination to spurn the Hoosiers, Indiana’s path to success subsequent season grew to become even narrower.
Filed to: Liam McNeeley, Mike Woodson
