Kon Knueppel

About

Kon II Knueppel ( kə-NIP-əl; born August 3, 2005) is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils and was drafted fourth overall in the 2025 NBA draft by the Hornets.

Knueppel grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and attended Wisconsin Lutheran High School. He averaged 10.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game during his freshman season with the Wisconsin Lutheran Vikings. Knueppel averaged 19.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game as a junior. As a senior, he averaged 26.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game during the regular season and was named Wisconsin Mr. Basketball. He helped Wisconsin Lutheran win the 2024 Boys Basketball Division 2 State Championship against Pewaukee and finish the season with a 30–0 record.

Knueppel was rated a five-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals and a four-star recruit by ESPN and On3. He committed to playing college basketball for Duke over offers from Alabama, Virginia, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Marquette and USC among others. Knueppel signed a National…