Black Hills State University Athletics

PRE-BHSU
Neary will enter the Yellow Jacket program as a redshirt junior after playing two years for his father, Shawn Neary, at Gillette College. He closed his career at GC with a school record 274 assists, averaging 4.6 per game as he played in 59 games. Also, during those 59 games he made 53 starts, averaging 9.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game as he shot the ball 49.0 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from 3-point range. The Pronghorn point guard had been one of the top at his position in the NJCAA this past season as he ranked tenth nationally with 6.0 assists per game and was 28^th in the country with a 3.7 assist/turnover ratio in 2024-25. He added 10.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 steals per game as a sophomore to help lead Gillette to a 29-4 record and a Region IX North championship, while earning Third Team All-Region IX and Region IX All-Tournament Team honors. Neary dished out a program record 14 assists in a dominant early season win over Carroll College JV on November 15, 2024. Prior to becoming the first signee with the return of basketball at Gillette, he redshirted during his lone season at Williston College in 2021-22. Neary was a part of the 2018 Class 4A state championship at Campbell County High School, helping set the tone for his prep career. As a Camel he broke the school record for most 3-pointers in a single game, draining 11 in a match-up with Xaverian (N.Y.) while CCHS made 21 total as a team. He ranked top-10 in Wyoming's Class 4A in made 3-pointers in each of his final two seasons, ranking fourth in 2019-20 (57) and eighth in 2020-21 (30). Additionally, he was one of the state's top assist leaders, ranking third in 2020-21 with 4.7 per game. Neary averaged double figure points per game each of his final three seasons, closing his prep career with an average of 12.5 points per game as a senior to go along with 5.4 rebounds per game. He was a 2-time Class 4A East All-Conference selection in 2020 and 2021, and was a Class 4A All-State selection in 2021. His final game representing Campbell County High School was in the Montana-Wyoming All-Star Game where he scored 16 points as he connected on four shots from beyond the arc. Jefferson is the son of Shawn and Ann Neary, and has three siblings Tyler, Abi, and Kaylie. His father Shawn has accumulated more than 500 career wins as the head coach at Miles Community College and Gillette College, averaging nearly 24 wins a year and a winning percentage of 75 percent.