Liam McNeely’s proudest supporter had a heartfelt reaction to his recent achievement in the NBA Draft.
Right after the former UConn forward was selected by the Charlotte Hornets at No. 29 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, his girlfriend, Rien Gleeson, shared her excitement on her Instagram story to mark this pivotal moment.
“I’m just so proud,” Gleeson exclaimed from inside Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, where she appeared to be enjoying the lively draft atmosphere.
McNeely, who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 210 pounds, had an impressive season with the Huskies, averaging 14.5 points, six rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
Gleeson and McNeely, both 19, started dating around 2024, sharing sweet memories from Prom Night on Instagram.
When McNeely’s name was called, he embraced his mom, Ashley, before participating in an ESPN interview.
“He really wants to do right by his team. They’ll be thrilled to have him,” Ashley said.
This isn’t the first time McNeely’s family has made an impression during broadcasts. Ashley garnered attention during UCONN’s March 2025 Madness Run, especially during a second-round game against Florida.
“Liam McNeely’s mom deserves all that airtime,” one viewer tweeted back in March.
UCONN went on to pursue their third consecutive championship, which culminated in a tightly contested 77-75 loss to the Gators.
Draft Update
The Phoenix Suns initially held the No. 29 pick before trading it to Charlotte as part of a deal for Mark Williams.
The second round of the 2025 NBA Draft is set to continue on Thursday.
