NC State Basketball Rookie Comes Out Hot in First Career Start
Entering the NC State basketball home game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (19-7, 11-4 ACC) in the Lenovo Center on Saturday afternoon, Wolfpack freshman Paul McNeil was averaging only 2.9 points per game.
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The 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard, a former four-star prep from Rockingham, N.C., almost doubled that amount in the first 64 seconds alone in what was his first start for the Wolfpack (10-16, 3-12 ACC), as he replaced NC State's top scorer, Marcus Hill, in the lineup.
McNeil, who has averaged only 6.1 minutes across his 19 appearances under Kevin Keatts, delivered a tip-in bucket on the Wolfpack's first possession. On the next trip down 30 seconds later, he splashed a three versus the then-scoreless Demon Deacons.
Fire Us Up, P2‼️
— NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) February 22, 2025
📺: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/ILQEAiszaV
And McNeil's hot hand was contagious, at least for a minute. NC State senior guards Michael O'Connell and Dontrez Styles responded to the "Paul McNeil" chants with threes of their own to give the Wolfpack an 11-0 advantage just over three minutes into the contest.
At the time of this article's publishing, McNeil had five points, two rebounds, one assist, one steal, and zero turnovers across 10 minutes of action. The Wolfpack led, 17-16, with 9:45 to play in the first half.
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Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of NC State Wolfpack on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining NC State Wolfpack on SI in 2024, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.