Legacy recruits are making their choices known as the 2026-27 high school sports season gets closer, and a fresh wave of familiar names has landed at major Division I programs.
One of the biggest moves came Monday, when Kager Knueppel, the brother of Charlotte Hornets standout Kon Knueppel, committed to Duke. Kon spent one season with the Blue Devils before the Hornets selected him fourth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. Kager, who considered Purdue and Wisconsin before picking Duke, announced the decision on social media with a line that fit the moment: “The brotherhood just got bigger, again,”
The brotherhood just got bigger, again. pic.twitter.com/w4GgJPEFNE
Kager Knueppel is a 6-10 wing at Wisconsin Lutheran in Wisconsin and ranks as a 4-star prospect and one of the top players in the Class of 2027. In a 2025-26 season that ended with Wisconsin Lutheran going 30-0 and winning the WIAA Division I state title, he averaged 16.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting better than 50% from both the field and 3-point range. The Vikings closed that run by beating Madison Memorial, 57-37, in the championship game.
His production has carried over to the Nike EYBL Circuit as well. According to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Knueppel is putting up 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game for Team Herro while shooting 50.7% from 3-point range.
The family ties keep showing up on the football side, too. The Jones brothers, Julius and Andre, committed to Notre Dame on June 22.
Their family connection runs through former NFL running backs Julius Jones, their father, and Thomas Jones, their uncle. Julius Sr. also played for Notre Dame in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Julius and Andre were central figures for St. Thomas Aquinas last season as the program claimed its seventh straight FHSAA 5A state crown with a 29-0 win over Lakeland.
Julius turned in a junior season with 58 catches for 876 yards, an average of 15.1 yards per catch, and 14 touchdowns. Andre finished his sophomore year with 37 tackles, one interception and four pass deflections.
Michigan also picked up a legacy name when Manningham Jr., the son of former Michigan and NFL wide receiver Mario Manningham, received an offer after a camp at the University of Michigan on June 16. Manningham Jr. posted on social media after the camp, saying, “After a great camp and conversation I am Blessed to receive my first division 1 offer from @UMichFootball #agtg pic.twitter.com/4ojpnIjAwn”
Mario Manningham played in the NFL from 2008 to 2014 with the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers and won Super Bowl XLVI with the Giants.
On the basketball side, Jaxon Richardson has already made his college decision, committing to Alabama men’s basketball on March 5 before officially signing on June 4. He is the son of former NBA veteran Jason Richardson, a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion whose playing career ran from 2001 to 2015.
Jaxon is also the brother of Orlando Magic shooting guard Jase Richardson. Jason and Jase both played at Michigan State.
A four-star small forward and McDonald’s All-American, Jaxon is among the top recruits in the Class of 2026. He averaged 11.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game at Southeastern Prep in Orlando in his final high school season, after posting 13.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game as a junior at Columbus High School in Miami.
He summed up his Alabama choice with a short message on social media: “BLITZ BAMA BLITZ,”
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