Why NC State’s Paul McNeil is ready for breakout season with a new mindset

Paul McNeil itched to play consistent minutes as a freshman last season. NC State’s electric 3-point specialist with a knack for scoring at a high clip was seemingly stuck on the end of the bench of a struggling Wolfpack squad, frustrating him at every turn.  But as the season waned on, McNeil was granted an opportunity to show what he could do. And, well, in a Big Four matchup with Wake Forest this past February, the former four-star recruit was able to be the spark plug that the Pack’s anemic offense needed coming off a 24-point loss at UNC.  McNeil, who was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time in his career, scored NC State’s first 5 points with two offensive rebounds, an assist and a steal in his first 3:42 on the floor.  Each time he touched the ball that night for the Wolfpack squad that only won three of its first 15 ACC games, the Lenovo Center crowd teetered on the edge of their seats. It was reminiscent of what former NC State star big man DJ Burns received during the 2024 NCAA Tournament as an audible excitement filled the arena just before he’d make a play.  McNeil did more than just star in the beginning of the game with his electric energy. He filled the stat sheet the rest of the night, scoring 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including a season-high four made 3-pointers, with four rebounds, three assists and a steal in 28 minutes. It was a long time coming for McNeil, who knew he could do it. Although he had played double-digit minutes in just five of the previous 26 games, McNeil felt like that was his everyday self, if given the opportunity to do so. “I was like, ‘That’s supposed to happen,’” McNeil recently recalled in an interview with TheWolfpacker.com. “I was happy because I actually did it. I had dreams where you wake up and it’s not real. I really had dreams of me doing something like that. It actually happened, so it felt real at that moment. But my mindset is always like that for every game.” McNeil’s explosive night to pace NC State to an 85-73 upset win over an in-state rival was a glimpse of what he could be at the collegiate level. It’s what first-year coach Will Wade hopes to get from the former No. 54 recruit in the 2024 cycle this season, but in order for McNeil to unlock that attitude every night, he’s had to work on himself first.  This past offseason was critical for McNeil — both personally and as a basketball player. He’s in a better spot on both fronts now. There’s no more doubting himself, like he did for parts of last season. Instead, McNeil heads into the 2025-26 campaign with a purpose.