BREAKING: Duke Reacts to Major Kon Knueppel Announcement After Freshman Season
The Duke Blue Devils are coming off a strong NCAA Tournament run that ended with a heartbreaking loss in the Final Four, capping an outstanding season for the program.
Duke wrapped up the year with a 35-4 record, falling to the Houston Cougars in the national semifinals after picking up tournament wins over Mount St. Mary’s, Baylor, Arizona, and Alabama.
While much of the spotlight was on standout freshman Cooper Flagg, another freshman, Kon Knueppel, emerged as one of the top players in the ACC.
Knueppel played a crucial role in Duke’s deep tournament run and helped lead the team to an ACC Tournament championship, where he earned ACC Tournament Final MVP honors.
Following his impressive freshman campaign, Knueppel has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft.
Duke acknowledged his departure with a message on social media:
“League next. Duke forever. Thank you, Kon Knueppel.”
Knueppel averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game in his lone season at Duke. In his final game — the narrow 70-67 loss to Houston — he contributed 16 points, seven rebounds, and two assists.
He originally joined the Blue Devils as a five-star recruit, ranked the No. 6 small forward and No. 19 overall player in the 2024 class by 247Sports.