Duke freshman Kon Knueppel to take the 1-and-done route to the NBA draft
Duke freshman Kon Knueppel to take the 1-and-done route to the NBA draft
Duke guard Kon Knueppel (7) drives against Arizona during the first half of a Sweet 16 round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Duke guard Kon Knueppel celebrates after scoring past Houston forward Ja'Vier Francis during the first half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Duke guard Kon Knueppel celebrates after scoring past Houston forward Ja'Vier Francis during the first half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Duke guard Kon Knueppel (7) drives against Arizona during the first half of a Sweet 16 round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Duke guard Kon Knueppel celebrates after scoring past Houston forward Ja'Vier Francis during the first half in the national semifinals at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Duke's Kon Knueppel is heading to the NBA after one college season.
The 6-foot-7, 217-pound wing announced his decision Wednesday after a season that included him being named MVP of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament while helping the Blue Devils reach the Final Four. Knueppel averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists as the team's No. 2 scorer behind Associated Press national player of the year Cooper Flagg.
Advertisement
'Forever a Blue Devil,' Knueppel posted on social media. 'Taking the Brotherhood with me to the next chapter. #NBADraft.'
Knueppel is the first member of Duke's touted freshman class to go pro. He's widely projected as a lottery pick.
'He's a guy that is really about competition," Duke coach Jon Scheyer said in social-media video posted by the program Wednesday. 'He never shied away from the competitive plays that have to be made in order to win at a high level.'
Knueppel is an efficient, floor-spacing scorer who shot 47.9% from the field, 40.6% from 3-point range and 91.4% from the foul line. And while he typically played a wingman role to Flagg, he thrived in the forefront when Flagg was injured during the ACC Tournament, scoring 28 points against Georgia Tech, 17 against rival North Carolina and 18 against Louisville as the Blue Devils won a second title in Scheyer's three seasons.
Advertisement
Knueppel is only the eighth freshman to win MVP honors at the ACC Tournament.
The Milwaukee native closed with 16 points in a loss to Houston in the national semifinals. His free throw with 1:14 left marked Duke's final point as the Blue Devils faltered late with the Cougars rallying with the game's last nine points in the final 33 seconds.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
12 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Women's tennis adds ranking protection for fertility procedures such as egg or embryo freezing
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Professional tennis players who take time off from competition for a fertility procedure such as egg or embryo freezing will have their ranking protected under a WTA Tour policy announced Wednesday. This follows the introduction in March of paid maternity leave and grants for fertility protection measures in women's tennis. Under the new protected ranking rule covering absences for fertility procedures, players can use the special ranking to enter up to three tournaments. Players already were eligible for ranking protection while pregnant or other ways of becoming a parent. 'For any woman, the conversation of family life versus a career is nuanced and complex,' 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens said in a statement released by the tour. 'The WTA has now created a safe space for players to explore options and to make the best decisions for themselves.' ___ More AP tennis:
Associated Press
32 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Anti-doping watchdog urges US authorities to shut down planned drug-fueled event in Las Vegas
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The global watchdog of doping in sports said Wednesday it will urge public authorities to shut down the drug-fueled Enhanced Games planned in Las Vegas next year. 'We will urge the U.S. authorities to find legal ways to block this initiative,' World Anti-Doping Agency president Witold Banka said on the sidelines of a meeting of Olympic sports bodies. Organizers of the games scheduled next May promise $1 million bonuses to beat world record times by athletes who will be encouraged to use performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision. 'This initiative seeks to normalize the use of potentially dangerous drugs,' Banka told leaders of Summer Olympics sports at the annual meeting of their umbrella group, known as ASOIF. 'For the sake of athlete health and the purity of sport of course it must be stopped,' the WADA leader said. Banka, a former sports minister in Poland, suggested the Enhanced Games could be legally exposed in the state of Nevada or federally. 'This is something that has to be explored from the legal perspective,' he told The Associated Press. 'I cannot imagine, for instance, doctors giving the drugs to the athletes. It is completely against the values of their work.' 'The main thing is this event is going to be located in the U.S. so I think there is a strong role to be played by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency,' said Banka, whose Montreal-based organization has long had a troubled relationship with the American agency. USADA's chief executive, Travis Tygart, has described the Enhanced Games as a 'dangerous clown show that puts profit over principle.' Investors in the project — which aims to sell personalized supplements and substances plans to subscribers — include one group backed by Donald Trump Jr. The doping-backed project was 'very embarrassing' for the U.S., Banka suggested, given its proximity to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 'I think the main responsibility is on USADA's shoulders, who need to take the lead because it is in their country,' he said. Swimming's governing body World Aquatics said last week it will ban athletes, coaches and officials who take part in the Enhanced Games. ___ AP sports:
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
NBA mock draft: Guards — including Illinois' Kasparas Jakučionis — could be big in Round 1
While Duke's Cooper Flagg is the headliner, this month's NBA draft could be just as much about the high-end guard prospects available. Flagg has long been the heavy favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick. But beyond the versatile forward is a bevy of guards prominently positioned in the top tiers of the talent pool, which could make for a very good night for the position when the first round begins June 25. It starts with multiple freshmen in Rutgers' Dylan Harper, Baylor's VJ Edgecombe, Texas' Tre Johnson and Oklahoma's Jeremiah Fears. Throw in Illinois' Kasparas Jakučionis, and guards make up five of the top nine picks — and ultimately, roughly half of the first-round selections — in the second edition of The Associated Press' NBA mock draft. Fresh off trading away Luka Dončić, the Mavericks luck into a versatile 6-foot-8, 221-pound forward who led the Blue Devils to the Final Four while becoming only the fourth freshman named AP men's college basketball national player of the year. He can thrive as a scorer (Atlantic Coast Conference freshman-record 42 points against Notre Dame) or playmaker (team-best 4.2 assists). His length and competitive edge can impact games defensively (team highs of 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks). And he has an all-around game more advanced than his age with room to develop as he turns 19 in December. The son of former NBA guard Ron Harper offers size at the point (6-5, 213 pounds) and averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a freshman. He could join NBA rookie of the year Stephon Castle in the backcourt for star Victor Wembanyama. Still, there's an awkward question of how a team with Harper and fellow one-and-done prospect Ace Bailey went just 15-17. The only benefit to injury-riddled seasons for stars Joel Embiid and Paul George was landing a high pick for a team that still has designs on contending in the Eastern Conference. The 6-4, 193-pound Edgecombe, who turns 20 in July, could help with two-way potential, rim-attacking athleticism and 3-point shooting. The 6-8 forward is a versatile athlete capable of stretching defenses (five January games with at least four made 3s) and tools to develop defensively. He averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds, though for a losing team despite featuring Bailey and Harper as the NBA-bound headliners. The Hornets already have 2023 No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller as a wing forward, so this would bet on talent over position need. It's a simple selling point for the league's worst team: the 6-5, 190-pound freshman can score. He averaged 19.9 points to lead the Southeastern Conference and all freshmen nationally while shooting 39.7% on 3s. He broke Durant's freshman Longhorns record when he scored 39 points against Arkansas in February. The Wizards need help in multiple areas after winning 18 games. They can start with the 6-3, 180-pound combo guard who averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his lone college season. Highlights included a four-point play to beat a ranked Michigan team, along with scoring 57 points in two SEC Tournament games. He also got to the line 6.3 times per game while ranking tied for 11th in Division I by making 183 free throws. But he made just 28.4% of his 3s and must add bulk. The 6-7, 217-pound Knueppel is an efficient scorer who was named ACC Tournament MVP while Flagg was sidelined by injury. Knueppel shot 40.6% on 3-pointers and ranked sixth in Division I by shooting 91.4% at the foul line. The freshman also had 10 games with at least four assists to show potential as a secondary playmaker for a Final Four team. With four first-round picks, the Nets could start with a long-term bet on the 7-1, 253-pound South Sudanese big man to hit his potential as a rim-protecting lob threat. Maluach had the combine's biggest wingspan (7-6 3/4) and showed stretches of capably defending guards on switches in his lone college season. He shot 71.2% largely on dunks and putbacks, so he'll need time to refine a raw offensive game. The 6-5 freshman has shown an all-around floor game. He averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists as a freshman, including one run of six straight 20-point games that featured matchups against three ranked teams — including then-No. 1 Tennessee. He also had four double-digit rebounding games and eight games with at least seven assists. Kasparas Jakučionis feels ready for the NBA draft — and excited for Illinois' new wave of 'Balkan Ballers'The 6-9, 248-pounder earned a spot in March Madness lore by banking in a buzzer-beating runner to beat Colorado State and reach the NCAA Sweet 16. The nimble move illustrated the still-developing upside for a skilled freshman who nearly averaged a double-double (16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds). The sophomore has a strong frame (6-7, 240) that could allow him to work some on the wing and bang inside with a nearly 7-1 wingspan. He contributed as a capable scorer (16.8), rebounder (8.3) and defender (1.3 blocks, 1.5 steals). The 6-7, 215-pound freshman reserve shot 37.1% on 3s and showed defensive potential by averaging a block per game despite playing just 19 minutes a night. He had one of the top max vertical leaps at the combine (39.5 inches). What we heard on Day 2 of the NBA draft combine: Players who might be on the Chicago Bulls' radarThe 6-9, 224-pound freshman who helped the Bulldogs return to the NCAAs for the first time in a decade offers an upside that could allow him to contribute as a small-ball big man or alongside another big man as a power forward. He could be a home-state frontcourt boost for the Hawks, though the 19-year-old must get stronger and improve his shooting (29.2% on 3s). The lanky 6-9, 194-pound forward from France has been honing versatile skills in Germany and turns 19 in December. He has the ability to run the court and attack off the dribble, averaging 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in Germany this season. The 6-9, 263-pound freshman offers a sturdy interior presence with a 7-6 wingspan, proving capable of operating in the post or in traffic while also flashing face-up skills. Sorber, 19, also averaged 2.0 blocks to offer defensive potential. It would help for him to improve his 3-point shot (6 of 37, 16.2%) but he would be a luxury boost up front for a team that won a league-best 68 games and reached the NBA Finals. The son of former NBA guard Jason Richardson is small (6-1, 178) for a combo guard, and he mentioned after a recent workout with Portland that he's working to prove he can play the point. Shooting 41.2% on 3s is enticing regardless. The 6-8, 232-pound Fleming increased his output in three college seasons and brings a sturdy frame to the NBA. He averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, and has improved his 3-point shooting from 31.3% through his first two college seasons to 39% last year. He also had one of the combine's biggest wingspans at better than 7-5. A top international prospect from Russia, the 19-year-old Demin spent a season at BYU as a playmaker with size (6-9, 199). That could allow teams to run offense through him as a strong passer who had 15 assists against two turnovers in 54 minutes of work during his last two NCAA Tournament games for a Sweet 16 team. After grabbing Maluach at eight, the Nets could bolster their perimeter with the 6-6, 201-pound lefty from Israel. Saraf has proven adept as a scoring playmaker, averaging 12.8 points and 4.6 assists this season in Germany. The 6-7, 215-pound McNeeley jumped right in as a freshman starter for the two-time reigning NCAA champion Huskies and projects as a floor-stretching wing, including with 22 points in the NCAAs against eventual champion Florida and a 38-point showing against then-No. 24 Creighton. The 6-11, 252-pound junior thrived in moving from the Ivy League (Yale) to the Big Ten as a low-post presence, averaging 13.2 points and 9.7 rebounds while ranking among Division I leaders with 15 double-doubles. He also showed the ability to step outside (38 made 3s in 37 games). The 6-5, 175-pound guard from France is a scoring playmaker and has been regarded as a possible lottery prospect. The 19-year-old had previously drawn recruiting interest from programs like Duke, Alabama and Gonzaga before opting to remain in his home country last year. The 6-5, 213-pound Coward has taken an interesting path. He started his career at Division III Willamette and spent two seasons at Eastern Washington, then played six games at Washington State due to injury and planned to transfer to Duke. But he stayed in the draft after testing well at the combine, including the best wingspan (7-2+) and standing reach (8-10) among guards, a 38.5-inch max vertical leap, and solid shooting-drill showings. The 6-5, 202-pound Clifford took his time developing as a five-year player, though the 23-year-old is coming off a huge year (18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists). He also improved his outside shot, going from making 33.8% over three seasons at Colorado to 37.7% on higher volume in two years with the Rams. The 6-2, 199-pound combo guard was an AP first-team All-American and Final Four's most outstanding player in the Gators' national title run. That included monster tournament performances — notably the frantic comeback against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight and a career-best scoring effort against Auburn in the Final Four — that bode well for a gamer who repeatedly rose to the challenge. The freshman from Canada worked as a top reserve averaging 12.6 points. Riley, 19, has potential as a scorer and passer with size (6-8) as he refines his game and develops physically (186 pounds). The 6-6, 195-pound freshman offers athleticism, outside shooting (37.9% on 3s) and defensive potential. Powell led all combine players in standing vertical leap (37.5 inches, 4+ inches more than anyone else) and max vertical (43.0) to go with a 7-foot wingspan. The fourth-year senior from France is a skilled 7-footer who can step outside and space the floor. He joined Flagg as the only unanimous AP all-ACC first-team picks after averaging 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds while making 67 3s in 35 games. Beringer, who turns 19 in November, projects as a mobile threat who can work in the pick-and-roll and as a lob threat. The French big man needs time to strengthen a lean 6-11, 230-pound frame. The 19-year-old with a 6-6, 205-pound frame has flashed shooting range and the ability to attack off the dribble. He earned MVP honors after helping the Under-18 Real Madrid team win last year's Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT) in Berlin. Also considered (in alphabetical order): Kam Jones, guard, Marquette; Ryan Kalkbrenner, center, Creighton; Noah Penda, forward, Le Mans Sarthe Basket (France); Hansen Yang, center, Qingdao (China).
