RIVERDALE, N.Y. — Manhattan Men's Basketball Head Coach John Gallagher has announced the penultimate signing for the 2026-27 Roster with the addition of graduate forward Liam McChesney on Wednesday morning.
"Liam fits who we are," described Gallagher.
The 6-10 forward continues his college career in the Bronx as a rare eighth year graduate student, who played one season in the Big East with the Creighton Blue Jays in 2025-26.
"He's a big who can score inside and out, defend multiple positions, and he brings the toughness the Metro Conference demands."
McChesney took the floor for the first time in nearly 979 days, due to heart surgery, with an appearance against South Dakota on November 5, 2025, for the Blue Jays. He also scored his first bucket in over one thousand days against Nicholls nearly a month later.
The Prince Rupert, Canada native was with Alan Huss, now Head Coach at Creighton, at High Point for two seasons, when he was at the helm too, but was limited due to the aforementioned heart surgery, but played a different role in the team's success that saw a pair of Big South regular season titles, and a tournament title with a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2024-25.
Throughout McChesney's time with High Point, the team went a combined 56-15 in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Prior to his time at High Point, McChesney played a pivotal role at Illinois State in two years with the Red Birds. In 2021-22, McChesney played in 32 games with eight starts, where he averaged 17.3 minutes-per-game, and blocked 30 shots, with 100 rebounds.
That year, he had scored in double-figures six times with a season high 19 points at UNI in the latter days of January. McChesney then followed suit with a 16 point and 10 rebound performances in the effort against Valparaiso, for his first career double double. He opened his career in Illinois with a four-block performance against the UNCW Seahawks in non-conference play.
The following year in 2022-23, McChesney started in 19 of the 28 games he appeared in, with a career high 25 points against Belmont in non-conference play, while scoring in double-figures four times throughout the year.
The Canadian opened his collegiate career at Utah State, as a redshirt, before seeing action in three of the first five games of the campaign, before suffering a season ending leg injury.
Prior to college, McChesney was part of the Varsity Boys' Volleyball and Basketball program for four years at Charles Hays Secondary School.
Throughout his high school career, he averaged 30 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists as a junior, before averaging 35 points and eight assists as a senior. His efforts were recognized as Athlete of the Year for four straight seasons from 2016-19.
He was awarded MVP at AA Provincials and was a member of the U17 Canadian National Team as a junior. He was also a member of the pool for the U17 Canadian National Team as a sophomore.
Finally, McChesney played travel basketball with Basketball BC and AthElite from 2014 to 2018.
"He is a high-character young man with tremendous upside. We're thrilled to welcome him to Riverdale and to the Bronx."
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