Freshman guard Cashius McNeilly will redshirt due to injury

Texas A&M basketball coach Buzz Williams on Thursday confirmed speculation that freshman shooting guard Cashius McNeilly would set out a redshirt year this season.

The four-star rated McNeillly of Thornhill, Ontario was the highest-ranked prospect of A&M’s 2019 recruiting class. He’s been sidelined the entire season by what Williams called a foot “reaction” that could lead to a fracture.

McNeilly complained about foot pain during practice before the season. He wore a protective boot for several weeks.

Williams said McNeilly appeared to be making progress in early December. But Williams did not want to risk further injury and perhaps cost McNeilly a year of eligibility.

“I told him after Christmas that I made the decision and he would redshirt,” Williams said. “He’s following a different plan each day than what our players are. He’s been really good. We’re into the second full week of that now. He’s been great.”

McNeilly, whose uncle Jamie is A&M’s associate head coach, shot 50 percent from 3-point range while playing for Canada at the International Basketball Federation Under 17 World Cup in Argentina last summer.

His absence has left a significant hole for the Aggies, whose 23.4 3-point shooting percentage is the worst in the nation.

“He’s a very good prospect, who obviously has been around the game his whole life,” Williams said. “He will help us immediately and could for sure help us in the areas that we’re struggling now. But I didn’t think long term that was fair to him or his family.”