Assessing Liam McNeeley, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Fedor Zugic in the UConn-Creighton Game

February 12th, 2025

Yesterday, I took the time to watch UConn’s 6-7 freshman forward Liam McNeeley play against Creighton in a very competitive college basketball game. McNeeley is a highly skilled player that can really score the basketball, and he is a projected lottery pick for the 2025 draft. I wanted to see him play in a live game, and it was also another opportunity to watch some of the other prospects play. McNeeley was terrific as he scored the ball at will and consistently made plays to lead his team to get a narrow win on the road over Creighton. Here are my thoughts on how he and the other prospects played, as well as how their games may translate to the NBA.

UConn’s 6-7 freshman forward, Liam McNeeley’s masterful, 38 point, 5 made threes, and 10 rebounds performance may have allowed him to enter the conversation to be a top 5 pick for the 2025 draft.
(Photo: Bonnie Ryan/Associated Press, via KGET.com)

Liam McNeeley had an excellent performance, as he scored 38 points, made 5 threes, and had 10 rebounds in his team’s 70-66 win over Creighton. He is a smart, highly skilled forward that showed off strong offensive skills to help his team get the victory.

McNeeley did a great job of knocking down outside shots, particularly from beyond the arc. He is a terrific spot-up shooter that thrived at making threes off the catch. He has a lot of range on his shot and also has a quick release, and McNeeley also would run quickly off ball screens to make quick threes to showcase his ability to make movement threes. Not only was he terrific in making threes in catch-and-shoot situations, but his size and ability to excel as a movement shooter allowed him to be an unstoppable force on offense.

Also, McNeeley showed a gifted shooting touch as a scorer out of the post. He was able to use a drop step move to score on a turnaround jumper over a defender. He also managed to dribble quickly to his left and go up to score on a strong move while getting fouled another time.

Plus, he also showed a solid ability to score off the dribble. McNeeley would drive hard to the hoop, and he showed the balance, body control, and finishing ability to regularly score and draw free throws. McNeeley showed that he can score in traffic and absorb the contact to regularly get to the free throw line. He also was able to drive up court to throw down an emphatic jam. Sometimes though, he would take tough, off-balanced shots, which would occasionally lead to misses when he wouldn’t get foul calls.

Also, he showcased perhaps adequate playmaking skills. McNeeley is a highly skilled scorer that did a great job of creating shots for himself in this game. He also was able to make a drive and dish pass to notch an assist, and he also found a teammate ahead on the break due to possessing fairly solid court vision. On the downside, he committed a couple of turnovers in this game. On a baseline drive, he clumsily lost the handle before chasing the loose ball down, but was promptly called for a double-dribble that time. Another time, after driving to the hoop, he threw a hasty pass that got intercepted.

Also, McNeeley did a great job of rebounding the basketball. He has a keen nose for the ball and was quite active at crashing the glass, as he was able to get multiple boards when he was on the floor. Plus, he also played satisfactory defense in this game. McNeeley was able to run in to intercept an inaccurate dribble handoff pass to get a steal. He also would close out on shooters and contest shots to force misses. Sometimes though, he would occasionally struggle to defend opponents off the dribble, as he got beat off the dribble once, and got outmuscled another time to give up a couple of scores.

In general, Liam McNeeley is an agile, very skilled forward that did a terrific job of shooting and scoring the basketball, and he put forth a strong all-around performance to help his team get the victory. He is a high-floor prospect that will likely be a lottery pick in the 2025 draft, and he has the skills to develop into being a solid starter in the NBA.

Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 13 points, and had 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks in 40 minutes in his team’s 70-66 loss to UConn. (Photo: Bonnie Ryan – FR172075 AP, via Idaho State Journal)

Creighton’s 7-1 senior center, Ryan Kalkbrenner had a fairly solid showing in his team’s tough loss to UConn. He is a strong, mobile big man that excelled as an interior player when he was on the court, and he proved that he is the anchor of his team.

Kalkbrenner showed a knack for scoring on hustle plays. He scored off of rolls, as well as off of a back cut, and he is at his best when he gets the ball on the move to score around the basket. He also was able to catch a lob to score at the rim. He also was able to score on a dunk as well as on a drop step move when posting up. On the downside, Kalkbrenner struggled to find his shooting touch on post plays, as he would tend to miss on jump hooks and turnaround jumpers. He also didn’t look to take outside shots from further out.

He also showcased decent playmaking skills. Kalkbrenner is an unselfish player that passes the ball well for a player his size, and he can ably make tough catches and pass out of the post to find open shooters to set up plenty of scoring chances for his teammates. On the downside, there was one inaccurate pass that he threw that led to a turnover.

He also was able to get a handful of rebounds, but he didn’t get nearly enough boards for a player his size, considering that he played every minute of this game. He also played decent defense in this game. Kalkbrenner was able to block a put back to himself due to possessing solid length, athleticism, timing, and instincts. He also would contest shots to force some misses. However, there was one play where he was late to rotate on a switch, and allowed his opponent to score on a floater. He also would sometimes foul opponents due to over-aggressiveness, as he would try to block shots and be called for fouls instead.

Overall, Kalkbrenner played fairly well in this game, and he is a very tall, energetic big man that made hustle plays on both ends of the floor to keep his team in it. He could be a solid pick in the second round of the 2025 draft. He’ll need to expand his skill set offensively, but his solid blend of size, and interior skills could enable him to be a solid role player in the NBA.

Creighton’s 6-6 freshman swingman, Fedor Zugic provided a spark off the bench, especially late in the game to keep his team in it down the stretch. (Photo: Bonnie Ryan – FR172075 AP, via The Herald Journal)

Fedor Zugic had a solid showing in his team’s loss to UConn. Although he only played in the second half, he made the most of his minutes, as he showcased strong shooting and scoring skills in this game. He ran off of a ball screen to make a quick three to showcase his shooting prowess and movement shooting ability. He also would drive hard to his left to frequently draw fouls to get to the free throw line. He was able to do so on a strong dunk attempt, as well as utilizing a craft pump fake another time.

He also showcased satisfactory playmaking skills, and he is an unselfish player that would make the extra pass to get the ball to his teammates. On the other hand, he did not grab a single rebound in this game. Defensively, he looked to be fairly average in this game. He had some trouble staying in front of a quicker ball handler on a drive on one possession, but there was another where he dove for a loose ball on the ground to try to help his team get a defensive rebound (that ultimately ended up being ruled UConn basketball).

Overall, Zugic played well in limited minutes in his team’s tough loss in this game. He excelled as a shooter and scorer on offense, and he showcased above average athleticism, as well as some shot creation skills and movement shooting ability that could make him a dynamic offensive player in the future. He’ll need more time to hone his game as he’s been inconsistent at the collegiate level so far, but given his strong prior track record overseas combined with his emerging skill set, he is a skilled, mobile swingman that could project into a shooting specialist role off the bench in the NBA.

Alex Karaban had his ups and downs in his team’s win over Creighton. He is a smart, skilled combo forward that normally excels on offenser, as he is a sharpshooter that can distribute the ball and make energy plays, but he struggled to consistently make shots in this game.

Karaban excelled at scoring on hustle plays. He showed a knack for scoring on quick, energetic put backs after grabbing offensive rebounds. He also showed off a strong floater game, as he would drive to the hoop to make them from around the mid-range. He showed a solid ability to score off the dribble, as he is a crafty scorer that consistently made two-pointers, even if it looked rather unspectacular. On the downside, Karaban missed all of his threes that he took from beyond the arc, even though they were all in catch-and-shoot situations.

Also, he showcased decent playmaking skills in this game. Karaban was able to swing the ball to find an open shooter to notch an assist, and he also dove for a loose ball on the ground to help his team retain offensive possession of the ball another time.

He also was able to get his fair share of boards to help his team on the glass. Defensively, he looked to be about average at best. For the positives, he is an active defender that will play help defense, as he was able to hustle back to block a shot off of a drive to a teammate. He also managed to deflect a pass another time, and he would contest some outside shots to force misses. On the other hand, he would be late on his rotations, which would lead his team to allow scores to their opponents. His lack of size made it difficult to defend taller, stronger opponents in the post, which would lead him to get bullied and pushed around, and it would cause him to commit fouls and allow scores.

Overall, this wasn’t the best game for Karaban, but he has a strong track record and he is a proven winner at the collegiate level. Though he may only be an average athlete, he is a winner that projects into a 3 and D role at the NBA level, and he could be an interesting option for NBA teams to consider in the second round range of the 2025 draft.

Jaylin Stewart had a decent showing in his team’s win over Creighton. He is an athletic, sophomore forward that showed off versatile scoring skills and excelled at making plays on both ends of the floor. Stewart was able to pull up to make an open three-pointer to show off his shooting skills. He also managed to score on a quick put back. While he didn’t take many shots in this game, he is an unselfish player that can move the ball and make shots when needed. On the downside, there was one play where he handled the ball but lost it to commit a turnover once.

He also was able to get his fair share of boards in this game, as he particularly excelled as an offensive rebounder. He also defended well. Stewart would poke balls and deflect passes to help his team get steals and deflections. He also contested a corner three to force a miss. On one play though, he over-helped off his man and was late to rotate back, as he allowed his man to score on a corner three that time.

Overall, Stewart is an athletic, skilled forward that projects well into a 3 and D role at the NBA level. He’ll need to be more assertive on offense, but he is a second round prospect that could end up being an effective role player in the NBA.

Steven Ashworth also had a decent showing in his team’s tough loss to UConn. Though he didn’t make any of his three-pointers, he showed a knack for finding ways to get fouled to frequently get to the free throw line, as he would often do so on quick drives to the hoop, and he also flailed to draw three free throws on a deep pull-up three. He also managed to score on a speedy drive early in this game.

He also showcased decent playmaking skills. He is an agile, skilled playmaker that can make passes off the dribble as well as find teammates on the move to rack up assists. He was able to make an accurate lob pass to a roll man once, but he was inconsistent at throwing accurate lobs in this game. Sometimes though, he would over-dribble and lose the ball, and other times, he would throw inaccurate passes that would lead to turnovers.

He also did a good job of rebounding the basketball. Defensively, there’s as one play when he defended an opponent on a drive on a switch, and he got outmuscled by a taller opponent that led him to commit a foul and allow a score that time.

Overall, Ashworth played fairly well despite not making a three-pointer and being a bit turnover prone, and that was because he did such a tremendous job of drawing and making free throws, and he also collected plenty of assists. Ashworth has the skills to compete for a roster spot in the NBA in the future, and he would likely project into a backup point guard role at the NBA level. Even if he doesn’t make it to the NBA, he could likely carve out a solid playing career in professional basketball.

Jasen Green is a fairly athletic, skilled combo forward that played well in his role for Creighton. He is a versatile scorer that excelled as a spot-up shooter and low post scorer, and he also defended well. He is an active help defender that can get steals and blocks, and he would stay with his man and use his length and positioning to contest threes to force misses. Overall, he provided Creighton with some much needed scoring and defense in this game, and he is a skilled player that could be a prospect to watch in the future.

Jackson McAndrew also played fairly well in this game. He is an agile, skilled forward whose size and sharpshooting skills were evident on and on full display, as he made a couple of open corner threes off the catch. He also ran the floor to score in traffic. Overall, he didn’t really do many other things other than shoot and score, but McAndrew’s jump shot, especially for a player his size, combined with having above average athletic gifts could allow him to make it to the NBA someday.

Samson Johnson didn’t really stand out in this game, but he made a few plays to help his team, despite being foul prone in his team’s win over Creighton. He showed soft touch by scoring on a jump hook from the block. He also threw a timely pass to find a teammate on the move to set up a score for him. Another time though, he got the ball stripped off of himself that went out of bounds to commit a turnover. Also, Johnson didn’t take many shots in this game.

He did a good job of rebounding the basketball in the limited amount of time he was on the floor. He also defended fairly well. Johnson would frequently jump passes to get steals. He also was able to force a miss he dri when defending in the post. Sometimes though, he would play too aggressively and use his hands too much, which would lead him to be foul prone.

Overall, Johnson didn’t make a big impact on this game, but he is a very athletic big man that showed off some passing and defensive skills, as he showed good hands and instincts to get steals. He’ll need to improve his skill set significantly on offense, and he’ll need to improve his discipline on the defensive end to stay on the floor for longer stretches, but Johnson is an intriguing prospect that could project well into a backup center role at the NBA level.

Jamiya Neal didn’t have a great game, as he didn’t shoot particularly well, but he is an athletic combo guard that did a decent job of making threes when he would hoist them up. He ran off of a ball screen to make a quick three, and he also pulled up to make a smooth three another time. Plus, he also did a decent job of scoring off the dribble, and he was able to throw down a couple of magnetic dunks to give his team a boost. On the downside, he would tend to miss on pull-up jumpers, especially from the mid-range, and he also had some tough misses when he would look to take it to the basket.

He also showed off solid playmaking skills, as he can make passes off the dribble as well as find teammates on the move to create plenty of scoring chances for his teammates. Neal also rebounded the ball well. Defensively, he looked to be about average at best. He would get his hands on passes to get steals and deflections, and he also contested a shot off of a drive to force a miss. On the downside, he struggled to consistently defend opponents off the dribble, as he would sometimes get outmuscled by his opponents, and he also had trouble guarding shooters. Occasionally, he would give up too much space, and other times, he would overcompensate and foul a jump shooter instead.

Overall, Neal didn’t have his best game, but he is an athletic, energetic combo guard that can make hustle plays on both ends of the floor. He’ll need to be a more consistent outside shooter, but he is a versatile playmaker that could compete for a roster spot in the NBA sometime down the road.

Other Notes:

Solo Ball struggled to make shots, but he was sometimes able to score on smooth, crafty layups to the hoop, and he also pulled up to make a long two, but he often would miss on mid-range jumpers and threes in this game, as he often had trouble connecting on his outside shots. He is an athletic combo guard that passed, rebounded, and defended well, and Ball was able to make an impressive block by swatting a dunk attempt on the break to a teammate. Overall, Ball has normally shot the ball very well this season, but he struggled with his jump shot in this game, but he is a second round prospect whose athleticism and ability to score and defend could enable him to be an effective role player at the NBA level.

Tarris Reed Jr. was in foul trouble as he had trouble defending opponents in one on one situations and also was held scoreless in this game, as he struggled to finish plays in traffic. On the other hand, he did a very good job of setting screens, which would enable his teammates get open to get the basketball. Overall, he didn’t have a great game, but he is a strong, physical big man that has the potential to be a good player in college basketball, and if he can develop a versatile repertoire offensively, he could end up competing for a roster spot in the NBA someday.

Aidan Mahaney was able to drive off of a screen to score on a floater, and he also ran the floor to score on the break, but he otherwise struggled to consistently make shots in this game. He passed the ball well, as he was able to make timely passes, and he also showed that he can make passes off the dribble. He also was able to chip in on the glass to get a pair of boards. Defensively, he struggled, as he would have trouble defending opponents in one-on-one situations or when defending movement plays, which would lead him to commit reach-in fouls and allow scores.

Overall, this wasn’t the best game for Mahaney, and he’s had his ups and downs this season. He’s shown a better feel for running the point than in previous seasons, but he’s struggled to make jump shots this season, and he’ll need to stay in school to continue to develop. Still, if he can work hard and improve his game, he could end up being a backup point guard in the NBA one day.

All in all, those are my thoughts on how Liam McNeeley and other various prospects fared in this game. Thanks for reading.