Education
He averaged close to 12 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks a game as a senior center with Coach Wayne Dickey at Sam Houston High School. He was named an Adidas All-American and ranked as a top-35 prospect.
He averaged close to 12 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks a game as a senior center with Coach Wayne Dickey at Sam Houston High School. He was named an Adidas All-American and ranked as a top-35 prospect.
He played 135 games spanning from 1999–2004, which included 21 starts. He had career averages of 3.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. As a freshman, McNeil suffered a knee injury and was granted a medical redshirt for the season.
McNeil earned the starting center job in his first full year at Syracuse, taking the spot from Billy Celluck.
However, due to foul trouble, McNeil would be limited to around 15 minutes per game. In his sophomore year, McNeil lost his starting position to Craig Forth.
Still, he managed to set a career high in points (34). McNeil would play a key role in Syracuse"s first National Championship in the 2002-2003 season.
In an upset of then-Number.
2 Pittsburgh, McNeil, a career 49.1% free throw shooter, hit two key free throws, and added a game-winning tip. In his final year, McNeil was the lone senior. McNeil set a career high for field goal percentage (755%).
He finished his career at Syracuse fifth on the career shots blocked list with 260 and fifth in games played with 135.
Following his Syracuse career, McNeil played with the Kentucky Colonels in the American Basketball Association in the 2004-2005 season, averaging 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds in 16 games. McNeil was taken with the fifth in the second round (13th overall) of the 2005 National Basketball Association Development League Draft by the Roanoke Dazzle.
He was subsequently waived by the Dazzle before signing with the Florida Flame. In two games with the Florida Flame he averaged 4.0 points and 0.5 rebound.
However, his season was cut short by a torn patella tendon.
McNeil then joined the Fort Worth Flyers in the 2006-2007 season. He would play in nine games with the Flyers, averaging 1.4 points and 1.4 rebounds before being waived on March 30, 2007.