born in gainesville, florida, neubauer played college basketball at la salle university for head coach speedy morris. the 1989–90 explorers went 30–2 and earned an ncaa tournament berth in neubauer's freshman season. la salle accumulated two more postseason berths and an overall record of 83–36 during his four years on the squad. neubauer served as a team captain as a senior and earned honorable mention gte all-academic accolades as a cum laude graduate in finance in 1993.