Class of 2028 Eastside Catholic (Washington) two-sport star Tytan McNeal is quickly establishing himself as one of the most heavily-recruited players in America.
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound basketball/football star has already accumulated 20 football offers and is beginning to stack them in basketball as well.
Recently, McNeal was named the nation’s No. 1 tight end and No. 14 overall prospect in his class, cementing himself as a five-star prospect.
He also snagged MVP honors on Day 2 of Paolo Banchero’s elite basketball camp.
It has all come very quickly for the budding superstar.
“I was super unaware,” he said. “I knew I was going to be ranked up there, but I didn’t think I would be that. I appreciate that they trusted my talent enough to put me up that high.”
Still, he has felt the momentum building for some time.
Offer No. 6 from USC was the first real eye-opener for the Washington star.
“It hit me when USC offered me,” McNeal said. “That was my sixth one. That’s my dad’s favorite school, my dad’s dream school and that was the one that made me think, ‘Oh shoot, this is real.’”
So far, the two schools that have made the biggest effort to connect with the Eastside Catholic athlete reside close to home.
“For me, Oregon is one that I’ve been feeling the love from, because they offered me so early,” he said. “And Washington. They’ve done a really good job, since I’m a local guy, of saying in touch and staying close.”
The Ducks offered McNeal in both basketball and football, which has taken on a different level of intrigue since giving class of 2026 commit Kendre Harrison the green light to play both in Eugene.
“That one was super dope,” McNeal said. “That was the second dual one, but that one really made me feel like a big recruit in both sports. Seeing Kendre Harrison, I know it’s a possibility.”
Two years after making the national championship game, the Huskies have established a new brand under Jedd Fisch, and it’s a message McNeal is listening to closely.
“I think they are looking pretty good,” he said. "It’s hard after you go to a national championship and your coach leaves, but I think Jedd Fisch has done a great job of making it his own. They treat it like they are the 33rd NFL team and they are building you for the NFL.”
Still, neither school has an early edge.
In fact, McNeal is still wide open and not even beginning to trip down his list.
With his newfound five-star status, McNeal said he’d love to expand his list and hopes to hear from Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State.
“Those are three of the biggest schools in recent history, so those are the ones I’d like to hear from pretty soon,” he said.
This fall, McNeal is attempting to balance a busy two-sport training schedule with a desire to check out some of his options.
Most of those trips will have to wait, but visits to nearby schools Washington and Boise State are in the works.
“I’m definitely going to go to U-Dub, and I’m definitely going to try to hit Boise State at least once,” he said.