Duke Blue Devils standout freshman sharpshooter Kon Knueppel has confirmed that he will be leaving college to declare for the 2025 NBA Draft. After an impressive season with Duke, Knueppel played a key role in their Final Four run. A five-star recruit out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he lived up to the expectations that surrounded him upon his arrival at Duke. He is widely projected to be a lottery pick in the upcoming draft.
When Knueppel committed to Duke, he was ranked as the No. 5 small forward in the country and the No. 18 overall player, according to 247 Sports. His performance during the 2024-25 season reflected his high ranking. Playing in 39 games, he averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He also shot an impressive 47.9% from the field and 40.6% from beyond the arc.
As for where he might go in the draft, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman predicts that Knueppel will be selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 9th overall pick. This would be an intriguing landing spot for the talented freshman. Wasserman also compared Knueppel to several NBA players, including Cameron Johnson, Kevin Huerter, Corey Kispert, and Saddiq Bey, all of whom share similar skill sets. No matter where he is drafted, Knueppel is expected to bring his elite perimeter shooting, high basketball IQ, and strong team chemistry to the next level.
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