MINNEAPOLIS — Daquein (day-kwon) McNeil is following Richard Pitino to Minnesota.

The Baltimore combo guard played at Vermont Academy and originally committed to play for Pitino at Florida International. Then Pitino left to take the Golden Gophers job, and McNeil was granted his release to join the coach in Minnesota.

McNeil averaged 19 points per game as a senior and will be eligible to play next season. He is the first player to commit to the Gophers since Pitino took over.

Pitino says McNeil’s ability to play on both ends of the floor will be “a great fit in our full-court style of play.”

McNeil’s commitment was big for Minnesota, which lost the only two recruits in the incoming class when Tubby Smith was fired.