If you’ve ever seen Dan Hurley courtside, you know he’s intense—every game, he’s either shouting commands or passionately pacing the sidelines. Since taking over UConn in 2018, Hurley’s unrelenting drive has reshaped the program, pushing his players with a dedication that rivals the obsessive fire of Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. Now, that same fire awaits UConn’s 5-star recruit.

Liam McNeely’s commitment to UConn also meant his commitment to Hurley’s simple but powerful philosophy of building success on obsession and relentless work. As Hurley explained to Fox 61, “If you come to UConn or I think what attracts the people that we’ve been winning championships with and the people that have been getting to the NBA with their careers and doing great things, they share the obsession.”

Huskies’ star player, Alex Karaban, echoed the sentiment when he admitted that the HC was ensuring the team was not satisfied with their back-to-back championships, and the players aligned just right with the ask. “we want more, that’s exactly what he’s getting out of us,” he had revealed to broadcaster John Fanta.

Now, from his early years at Montverde Academy to his impressive McDonald’s All-American selection, McNeely has consistently shown why he’s considered one of the top 10 recruits in the nation. In fact, McNeeley was the third-leading scorer on a Montverde team and was recently named to the watch lists for the Julius Erving and Naismith Awards. But going by Karaban and Hurley’s take on Huskies’ culture, he is going to need a little more than on-court skills to match stride with his teammates and the HC.

Head coach Hurley went on to state, in the interview, “They (UConn recruits) share a relentlessness about them in their pursuits on a daily basis. That’s what’s made it work so well, and those are the type of people that thrive with me. People will struggle with me if they don’t love it the way I love it.” For McNeeley, this mindset is something he will have to embrace fully if he is to thrive under Hurley’s demanding style. Considering his reasons for joining the program, Hurley may as well have taken the words out of the 19-year-old’s mouth.

Relentless by design: McNeeley’s perfect fit in Hurley’s UConn dynasty

Despite a promising start to his college recruitment—McNeeley originally committed to Indiana—where he found himself asking for a release from that commitment in March of 2024. Soon after, he chose to join UConn, a program with a winning legacy that aligned with his own aspirations.

In fact, for McNeely the fit was perfect. “Coach Hurley is a hard-nosed coach,” McNeeley said in his interview with ESPN. “That’s the kind of coach I thrive under. The offensive system they run is perfect for my game. The culture of the team. The sets they run. They are going to help me get better on both sides of the ball. The whole coaching staff are good people.”

For McNeeley, this intensity will be a key factor in his development. Expectations are sky-high, with Hurley already projecting McNeeley to surpass his former teammate, Cooper Flagg. While living up to Hurley’s demanding standards won’t be easy, the key for McNeeley is to embrace the drive and mentality. If we go by Hurley’s previous admission, he might be on the right track already. “just having a new group of players… coaching a new team that hasn’t won it, that wants it like they need oxygen,” he had said in a post by John Fanta.

It’s up to McNeeley to prove that he has what it takes to blossom under Hurley’s care.