There wasn't much of a secret that Nebraska's basketball team needed a point guard for the 2010 recruiting class. Even if Cookie Miller hadn't transferred to Miami (Ohio), he and junior college import Lance Jeter only would have had two more years to play. When Miller did leave, it made the need all the more pressing.

Over the weekend, NU head coach Doc Sadler filled that hole by getting a verbal commitment from Kenyon McNeaill, a 6-foot-1 point guard from Conway, Ark.

"I just liked everything about it," McNeaill said Sunday. "I like that they graduate their players, I liked that they had three big men coming in as freshmen, and I liked that I have a chance to come in as a freshman and get some playing time."

The big men McNeaill was referring to center Brian Diaz, forward Christopher Niemann and presumably forward Christian Standhardinger, although official word of his clearance by the NCAA and his arrival at NU may not come until later this month or July.

"I know to feed the big man when he needs the ball," McNeaill said.

McNeaill said Nebraska expects him to play quickly, either as a backup to Jeter, or as a competitor to his starting spot.

As a junior at Conway he averaged 15 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2 steals per game, leading the team in the last two categories. He shot 47 percent from the floor and 36 percent from 3-point range. Conway, a city just north of Little Rock and situated in between the Ozarks and Ouachita National Forests, finished 24-4 last year, losing 7A state title game to Little Rock Catholic. McNeaill was named an all-state player in Arkansas' largest class.

As of his commitment to NU, McNeaill's only other significant offer was to UAB, but he had already toured Arkansas' campus. He was also getting strong interest from Memphis, Michigan State, Missouri, Baylor and Mississippi State.

Asked if an offer from any school - and specifically Arkansas and Memphis - would change his commitment to NU, McNeaill said: "I'm going to Nebraska. We thought about if we got an offer from Arkansas or Memphis or wherever, which would I pick, and I'd pick to go to Nebraska."

Aside from the situation and the shot at playing time, McNeaill said he clicked with Sadler.

"He knows how to win games," he said. "Hopefully he can win some games with me."

McNeaill said he planned on majoring in business or education with an eye on pursuing a career as a basketball coach.

See also: Kenyon McNeaill State Tournament Video

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