Kager Knueppel’s rise has been hard to miss, and the Peach Jam gave everyone another reminder of why Duke is so excited about him.
The 6-foot-10 Duke commit has climbed quickly in the recruiting rankings over the last couple of months, and the buzz has only grown since he pledged to the Blue Devils. The appeal is obvious: a player that size who can really shoot is rare, and it’s easy to see both a college fit and an NBA path taking shape.
At Peach Jam, Knueppel’s game was on full display. His shot wasn’t as automatic as it had been during the Nike EYBL circuit earlier in the summer, but he still had a moment that turned heads when he knocked down seven three-pointers in one half against Caden Daughtry’s Florida Rebels. Daughtry was the biggest name at the event, and his showing could even push Jon Scheyer to rethink his 2027 recruiting approach.
CBS Sports’ Isaac Trotter came away impressed after seeing Knueppel in person and believes the fit at Duke is pretty clear.
"Knueppel is all of 6-10 and can shoot the cover off the ball," Trotter wrote." That combination is a tremendous base to construct a real valuable role player.
Kon Knueppel had way more offensive game, but Kager looks every bit the part of a multi-year contributor for Duke. His attention to detail defensively shined in person, and he earned tough assignments all week.
When he gets hot, watch out."
That kind of evaluation points to a very specific future for Knueppel in Durham: a big wing who can stretch the floor and hold his own on the other end. Duke could use him in a role similar to Dame Sarr’s next season, and it’s not hard to picture him camping in the corners and living off clean looks created by Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and the kind of high-level guards Scheyer is expected to have in 2027-28.
The defensive note matters just as much as the shooting. Trotter’s comment about Knueppel’s attention to detail suggests he already understands how to handle that side of the floor, and if he keeps adding strength, the profile gets even more intriguing.
That’s why the upside feels so real. He may not have the same polished offensive game his brother had at this stage, but he doesn’t need it.
He has something his brother didn’t: size. And with that combination, Knueppel looks like a serious 2028 NBA Draft prospect.
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Instead, the showdown has unraveled amid a broadcast rights dispute tied to Dukes new Amazon agreement and the existing contracts around Michigan, the Big Ten and Fox. The game had even been eyed for a move to LoanDepot Park in Miami before that option fell through, leaving Duke to pivot to Texas Tech on that date while Michigan now has to scramble for a replacement on its nonconference schedule. [Read more 🡒]