Liam McNeeley was thrilled for his friends and high school teammates, Cooper Flagg, Derik Queen and Asa Newell, who were getting drafted.

But he kept on waiting for his turn. It was past 11 p.m., and the Connecticut star still hadn’t heard his name called.

Then it finally happened.

With the 29th selection in the first round of Wednesday’s NBA draft, the 6-foot-7 wing was off the board.

He was taken by the Suns, but the pick was reportedly dealt to the Hornets.

“Since I was five years old, I have envisioned this moment,” McNeeley shared right after stepping onto the Barclays Center stage and shaking hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver. “This is the culmination of my lifelong dream, and now, the true hard work begins. The tears I shed are a mix of gratitude for all the memories and the people who have supported me along the way.”

McNeeley recognized the significant sacrifice, dedication, and passion required to reach this point. He acknowledged missing out on social gatherings with friends and precious time with family, emphasizing that every bit of it is justified by his deep love for basketball.

McNeeley enjoyed a standout lone season in college with UConn.

He averaged 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists, helping the Huskies win an NCAA Tournament game for the third straight season.

He became the fifth Connecticut first-round pick in the past five years.

There were questions about his ability to defend at the next level, along with his 3-point percentage of 31.7.

Ultimately, those issues contributed to the Texan falling to the bottom of the first round.

But McNeeley insisted he wasn’t upset afterward. He was more relieved.

“You know, there’s no reason to have disappointment,” McNeeley said. “I just got drafted to play in the NBA.”

McNeeley was one of two Big East players drafted in the first round.

Thomas Sorber of Georgetown was the other.

He was taken 15th by the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

When asked about the players he is eager to compete against in the league, McNeeley’s thoughts immediately turned to his former teammates at Montverde Academy (Fla.), including Flagg, Queen, and Newell.

“Getting to play against them is going to be amazing,” he said.