One of the top remaining names in the transfer portal, Paul McNeil Jr. has opted against leaving and will stay in Raleigh for his third year at the Collegiate level.
As a Sophomore, McNeil Jr. led the entire ACC in three-point percentage and made the jump from 4.2 to 13.8 points becoming an essential member of the side that who lost to Texas in the First Four.
When NC State’s Head Coach Will Wade dramatically quit the programme at the end of March to return to the LSU Tigers, it was widely reported that McNeil Jr. was Wade’s priority target for next season.
The 6ft5 Guard’s decision to enter the transfer portal added fuel to the rumours of a move to Louisiana but the Wolfpack’s new HC Justin Gainey has managed to convince McNeil Jr. to stay put for his Junior year.
NC State Wolfpack guard Paul McNeil Jr. (2) during the ACC Men’s basketball tournament between the NC State Wolf Pack and the Virginia Cavaliers on March 12, 2026 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Triple Threat from Deep for NC State
Now with the huge return of McNeil Jr., the Wolfpack have three Guards on their roster who shot over 38% from behind the arc last season with the additions of Christian Hammond and Preston Edmead from Santa Clara and Hofstra respectively.
After a red-hot 9-2 run to begin Conference play, NC State would only win one more game in the regular season and lost to Virginia in the second round of the ACC tournament.
This left a once ‘locked on’ Wolfpack nervous on Selection Sunday where they scraped in at the Final Four stage. Now with Gainey at the helm, the NC State faithful will be hoping their former player can guide the programme back to the heights of their Final Four run in 2024.
With McNeil Jr. in the mix, anything is possible for the future in North Carolina.