Conway’s McNeaill commits to Huskers, Purifoy still collecting offers

Kenyon McNeaill had seen enough. The Conway senior point guard committed to Nebraska recently after a campus visit. He passed on a planned visit to Memphis. Missouri, Ole Miss, UAB and Baylor and Tulsa also offered scholarships

“They have a very good program, a nice campus, nice arena and a good weight room,” said McNeaill, who is 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds. “It just felt right.”

McNeaill, who averaged 16 points per game and 4 assists last winter, will run the offense for coach Doc Sadler, a Greenwood native.

“He is a good coach and has won wherever he’s been,” McNeaill said. “He’s a laid-back guy, but on the court he’s all about winning.”

Sadler is 55-40 in three seasons at the school known for its football prowess. The Huskers recorded two NIT appearances under Sadler and a 2008 NIT win gave NU its first 20-win season since 1999.

“My goal is to go up there and help them win,” McNeaill said. “The past couple of years they’ve beaten Texas, Missouri and Baylor. They have some good wins. I’m going to do what I can to keep winning big games.”

McNeaill is Conway’s first D-I recruit since Greg Williams inked with Belmont (Tenn.) University.

However, McNeaill isn’t the Wampus Cats’ only D-I prospect. Preston Purifoy has offers from Ole Miss, Tulsa, UAB and Drake. He visited Arkansas last week and also attended camp at Missouri, where his cousin Leo Lyons finished his career this winter.

“Mike Anderson (Missouri coach) called him to the side and talked to him,” said Hesterly Purifoy, Purifoy’s father said. “He had a good camp. We went to Arkansas and (John) Pelphrey (Arkansas coach) said they want to evaluate him more in July.”

Purifoy, along with McNeaill, will play for the Arkansas Wings 17-and-under AAU team at the Peach Jam in Atlanta, and the Super Showcase and AAU National Tournament in Orlando. The elder Purifoy said he thinks other schools will offer after seeing his 6-foot-5 205-pound son in action.

Purifoy, who averaged 17 points per game last season, plays small forward and power forward for the Wampus Cats and Wings. He projects as a shooting guard in college.

Purifoy and McNeaill will go their separate ways after next season but hope to leave Conway with a championship ring.

“I don’t want to leave here without a state title,” McNeaill said. “We got close the past two years, but I have to win one this year.”