With a 41.4% career clip from deep, this Louisville sharpshooter brings elite spacing and high-volume scoring potential to Sacramento's radar as a high-value second-round target.
The Sacrmento Kings have two second-round picks -- Nos. 34 and 45 -- expanding the range of prospects to choose from in the 2026 NBA Draft next month.
Lorenzo J. Reyna and Matthew Feldman of the KingsRoundtable have covered various prospects who are likely second-round picks: Tennessee's Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Santa Clara's Allen Graves and Alabama's Amari Allen.
Friday's profile will focus on Louisville guard Isaac McKneely. The Kings invited McKneely as one of their six draft prospect workouts on Friday.
Knockdown Three-Point Shooter
McKneely shot 41.4% from three-point range throughout his entire collegiate career. He averaged six attempts a game, making him a high-volume, reliable shooter in the NBA.
The 6-foot-4 guard is a release valve when his teammates force the defense to collapse. A wide-open three-point shot for McKneely is an outcome teams do not want because of his efficiency.
McKneely caught fire from beyond the arc in Louisville's first-round matchup against Izaiyah Nelson and No. 11-seed South Florida in the NCAA Tournament. He shot a blazing 7-for-10 from three as part of a 23-point performance.
More Than Just a Shooter
Although almost 70% of McKneely's shot attempts are three-pointers, he can dribble and pass, too. He's used hesitation dribbles to freeze his defender and attack the rim, or throws a nice pass to a cutting teammate.
Defenses must respect his three-ball, which opens up other aspects of his game. His versatility in spurts could turn him into a matchup nightmare because of the ability to keep defenses honest and on their toes.
Coaches can run various sets for McKneely, either as a shooter or coming off a pin-down screen to attack the basket. While he's an elite three-point shooter, it's not the only skill he is good at.
Areas of Concern
McKneely lacks explosiveness and shot creation chops to punish defenses. It would make ball pressure and denial easier for defenses to employ and mitigate his strengths.
He doesn't have to develop into a primary shot creator, but improve his creation to attack defenders consistently. It would help him stay on the court even when he's not shooting well.
Draft Projection
The former Cardinal is likely a late-second-round pick or priority undrafted free agent. Sacramento has the 45th pick, which could be a reach to select him in the mid-second round.
He would be a steal as an undrafted free agent, given his shooting prowess, and the Kings have a good G League affiliate. The Stockton Kings have won more than 60% of their games in the last three seasons.
Are Kings a Fit?
Every team would like shooting, especially players like McKneely, who showcase the ability to dribble and pass. It would be an uphill battle for the Louisville senior, but Sacramento has always had shooters on its roster.
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