WASHINGTON, D.C. — A move and shot he’s practiced thousands of times in an empty gym paid off for Paul McNeil Jr. in the national spotlight.
McNeil Jr. of Richmond Senior High School fame, and a soon-to-be freshman player at North Carolina State University, hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer in the 51st annual Capital Classic Saturday.
Playing in the longest-running high school all-star basketball game, which started in 1974, McNeil Jr. helped complete the comeback for the United States All-Stars, which defeated the Capital All-Stars 105-102.
Bringing the ball up the left side of the court in the closing seconds with the game tied, McNeil Jr. directed traffic to clear out an isolation attempt against Daquan Davis (Overtime Elite/Florida State).
Moving to the right third of the court, McNeil Jr. cut back, dribbled left to the top of the arc and side-stepped Davis, hitting the game-winning triple over the defender as the horn sounded.
McNeil Jr’s bucket, one of four three-pointers he made, accounted for the final three points of a 23-7 run in the fourth quarter by the US All-Stars.
“I called off the screen and drove left,” McNeil Jr. recalled. “And I created enough space to pull up a shot. I believed in myself and I saw the ball go in the hoop when I hit the ground.
“In that moment, I felt really comfortable,” he continued. “That’s a shot that I’ve worked on, even with a defender hitting me as I shoot. To even have the opportunity to take that shot, it was a special moment. My coaches believed in me and let me rock out.”
The US All-Stars trailed by as many as 18 points during the game played at the Entertainment and Sports Arena. McNeil Jr. logged over 26 minutes on the hardwood and scored 18 points and recorded nine rebounds.
His 18 points were the second-most on his team, trailing only Mikey Lewis’ (Prolific Prep/St. Mary’s) game-high 23 points. McNeil Jr. led all players on the glass with a game-high nine boards (seven defensive, two offensive).
“I’m not totally pleased with my performance, I felt like I could have done more,” McNeil Jr. explained. “There were so many great players there and I never want to get complacent.
“Eighteen and nine is a great stat line, but what I’m most proud of is how I played the right way,” he continued. “It was more about what I could bring besides scoring — like energy, bringing confidence and keeping guys calm.”
Prior to the all-star showcase, McNeil Jr. and the U.S. All-Stars held two practices with head coach Dennis Scott, the 1990 national college player of the year and a 10-year NBA veteran.
The US All-Stars were made up of five Power 5 Conference players, as well as other Division-I commits to Georgetown (2), Georgia State, Houston, St. Mary’s and Villanova.
With the clash of talent and a short amount of time to get acclimated to one another, McNeil Jr. said it was no problem at all.
“We really came together as one,” McNeil Jr. shared. “We put all of our (high school and college) team pride to the side and great players understand we have to do that.
“Coach Dennis really helped keep it simple, too. He told us not to make it more difficult and play the right way. The chemistry came together really quickly and we were great teammates.”
Noting there were a lot of NBA scouts at the event, McNeil Jr. said his game plan was to distance himself from the other players by resorting back to what he does best — working hard at the game of basketball.
Wanting to “outwork everyone,” MncNeil Jr. “stayed in the gym.” He made it his mission to get in morning workouts, take shots before and after practice and hit the court late at night.
“There was great competition and I had a lot of fun,” McNeil Jr. said. “I held my own with the level of competition and I knew that my hard work was going to show. Some guys may have been taller, stronger, bigger or faster than me, but I’m prepared for the next level.
“My mindset was to separate myself and be different. I took all the chances I could get and I know nothing is going to be given to me. This was a more personal game for me and I carried North Carolina and Richmond County with me to show that.”
During his rise to high school stardom, and with his next chapter at NC State shining bright on the near horizon, McNeil Jr. has built a brand for himself. “P2,” as he calls it, is more than just an image – it’s an identity personified.
“When I say I want to be ‘him,’ that means I have to make ‘him shots,’ McNeil Jr. explained. ”I tell myself that I’m the one, I’m the player who is going to be big in a big-time moment. I have to be clutch when the clock is near zero and I proved that.”
This past weekend’s trip was also McNeil Jr.’s first visit to the nation’s capital. Joined by his dad Paul McNeil Sr. and brother Malachi Potts, Richmond teammate David McNair and videographer Christian Collazo also went along.
McNeil Jr. shared he enjoyed the food and “fast paced” city life, while also checking out some of DC’s most notable monuments and touring the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall.
