For NC State guard Paul McNeil, this offseason has been all about growth — both as a player and as a person. After a year of learning, adjusting, and facing challenges as a freshman, McNeil enters his sophomore season with renewed focus and a fresh sense of purpose under new head coach Will Wade.
Wade’s arrival has sparked a noticeable shift in the Wolfpack program. Practices are sharper, expectations are higher, and the energy, McNeil says, is completely different.
“Coach Wade definitely put a new program forward,” McNeil said. “There’s a lot more energy here. It’s a lot more structure that we got here. You’ve got to understand that what he’s trying to do is win and have fun.”
That structure has been one of the biggest changes from last season. Every day in the gym and weight room has purpose, from individual workouts to film study and team sessions. For McNeil, that attention to detail has helped him elevate his own discipline.
“He’s got individual work here, he’s on top of his schedule, not being late — he’s been on top of everything,” McNeil said. “He’s running everything. Last year was a little more not so structured, but it’s still doing good. This year, though, it’s a lot more organized.”
It’s an approach McNeil appreciates, especially after the ups and downs of his first college season. Through it all, he never wavered in his belief that NC State was where he belonged.
“Like I said, I love it,” McNeil said. “I’m well known here. I feel like I’m home. I’m going to stay by it. I feel like I’m home here.”
Returning to Raleigh wasn’t just about comfort — it was about unfinished business. McNeil knows he has more to give, and he’s been intentional about addressing the areas of his game that need the most growth.
“Defending the ball,” McNeil said. “Last year, I knew my struggle was defending and being quick on my feet. So a lot of my workouts have been defensively, getting stops and rebounding the ball well. As you get older, you’ve got to stay ready.”
He’s also developed into one of the team’s most reliable perimeter shooters. After connecting on 46% of his three-point attempts during summer workouts, McNeil said his mindset is centered on consistency and confidence.
“As you get older, you have to stay ready,” he said. “You’ve got to hit shots. You’ve got to play. You’ve got to hit shots. So that’s really been my mindset going into my sophomore year.”
Behind that improvement is a group McNeil credits as some of the unsung heroes within the program — NC State’s graduate assistants. Whether it’s extra shooting sessions or film breakdowns, McNeil says their daily investment has been key to his growth.
“I really believe it’s our GAs that help build our confidence,” McNeil said. “Just getting extra work in, staying out there. They don’t get paid that much, so when they do get extra work in with us, I really cherish those moments. They just help me build my confidence up. And the coaching staff, the coaches talk to me every day about just staying confident.”
Confidence, cohesion, and chemistry have all improved this offseason. McNeil said this group is noticeably tighter than last year’s roster — something built not only in practice, but through off-court experiences that have challenged the team mentally and physically.
“We definitely are more together,” McNeil said. “We bond way more. As we did Navy SEALs training and things like that, we’re really closer this year from what it was last year.”
Off the court, McNeil has also been grinding in the weight room. Building strength and endurance has been a challenge, but one he’s fully embraced as part of his evolution as an ACC guard.
“It’s been hard for me, honestly,” he said. “It really broke me off in the weight room. That’s the hardest part for me. But I’ve got to adjust to it and get used to it. Knowing I’ve got to get bigger, I want to play at this level. So that’s really what my mindset is going into every day in the weight room — getting bigger, stronger, eating more.”
The added muscle, improved defense, and refined shooting all point to a more confident McNeil heading into the season. Just as importantly, he feels the belief from those around him — from teammates to coaches — is stronger than ever.
“They believe in me,” McNeil said. “I’ve got a lot of coaches that believe in me, a lot of guys that’s pushing me too. So I think I’m going to be better off this year.”
And much of that belief starts at the top. McNeil said Wade’s energy and confidence have quickly become contagious within the locker room.
“It definitely rubbed off,” he said. “He’s the head coach of this team, so we see him as a reflection of us — and we’re a reflection of him. That’s how we co-side with each other.”
For McNeil, the goal is simple: keep growing, keep improving, and help lead NC State into a new era defined by discipline, connection, and belief.
“We’ve got a lot of shooting opportunities, we’ve got a lot of size, and we can defend the ball well,” McNeil said. “We’ve got a lot of room for this year — and that’s what’s going to happen this year.”
