Blog Entry
McNeaill backs out of commitment to Nebraska
January 13, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under 2010 Recruiting Class, News, Recruiting.
The Lincoln Journal Star reported earlier this week that point guard Kenyon McNeaill has decided to back out of his oral committment to NU and explore his options.
McNeaill mentioned that he didn’t see much playing time available for him since the Husker’s younger guards seemed to be playing well. The guards who will be back next year should include Lance Jeter, Brandon Richardson, Ray Gallegos, Eshaunte Jones, and walk-on Drake Beranek who is sitting out this season to satisfy NCAA transfer guidelines.
I can see where McNeaill is nervous about his playing time possibilities. The competition will be fierce for time between those 5 next year. But I also think it says something about how McNeaill views himself. While I like our collection of perimeter players, nobody is confusing them for NBA caliber players. If he doesn’t believe that he’s good enough to find a spot in the rotation, then he’s probably not going to be the kind of player the Nebraska wants.
Doc Sadler’s reclamation project with NU, looks to be on its way and is arguably a quality point guard away from being special in the next couple of seasons. We’re young and we finally have some size with Jorge Brian Diaz at 6-11, Brandon Ubel at 6-10, Chirstopher Niemann at 6-10, and incoming junior college transfer Andre Almeida at 6-10. Plus forwards Quincy Hankins-Cole at 6-8, Christian Standhardinger at 6-8, and Toney McCray at 6-6. And some decent outside shooting guards in Jones, Richardson, and Gallegos. A difference-making point guard could push the Huskers over the top.
McNeaill’s back-out opens up a scholarship for the 2010 class. Also, with Adrien Coleman’s departure from the team at the semester break that should give Doc 2 scholarships to fill for the 2010 class.
