The Blue Devils might have an unexpected freshman star on their hands.
While the NBA world is captivated by Duke basketball freshman Cooper Flagg, and there’s significant interest in 7-foot-2 rookie center Khaman Maluach, forecasted as a Top-3 draft pick in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early 2025 mock draft, another freshman is quietly making waves. Freshman wing Kon Knueppel could be the surprise player of the season and is already catching the attention of NBA scouts.
Knueppel attended the Jayson Tatum Elite Camp last week and impressed NBA scouts with his elite shooting abilities and surprisingly strong defensive play.
Jon Chepkevich, the Director of Scouting for DraftExpress, praised Knueppel’s performance: “Rained down threes, finished through contact, made smart cuts, kept the ball moving, and was rock solid defensively. Projected mid-1st round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.”
This recognition marks one of the first times Knueppel has been associated with the upcoming draft, despite not having the same size and physical attributes as some of his peers. The Athletic’s early mock draft published on Wednesday has Knueppel going No. 16 overall in June.
Ranked as a 5-star recruit and No. 18 in the country according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Knueppel dominated his senior season in Wisconsin, sweeping the Player of the Year Awards. He averaged 25.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game on 59.4-percent shooting from the field and 39.5-percent from 3-point range. On the Nike EYBL circuit last summer, he shot an impressive 47.5-percent from 3-point range and has continued to showcase his shooting skills in offseason workouts at Duke.
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Duke lists Knueppel at 6-foot-7, 217 pounds, up from his high school measurements of 6-foot-5, 205 pounds.
While much of the nation focuses on the trio of Cooper Flagg, Tyrese Proctor, and Caleb Foster, Kon Knueppel is poised to make a significant impact when the Blue Devils begin their season on November 4 against Maine.
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