Blue Devil Country

Another Duke Basketball Recruit Sees McDonald's All-American Snub

Duke basketball increased its all-time McDonald's All-American count to 92, but it should have been 93.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
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Last year, it was five-star Caleb Foster, now a Duke basketball freshman guard, who ranked inside the top 20 on the 247Sports 2023 Composite but was left off the list of 24 seniors who landed on the McDonald's All-American Game rosters. Seemingly, Foster's snub was to make room for LeBron James' four-star son, Bronny James.

This year, Wisconsin Lutheran five-star forward and early Blue Devil signee Kon Knueppel, who ranks No. 16 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite and has routinely recorded 30-point outings as a high school senior, looked deserving of the prestigious distinction but did not make the cut for the April 2 showcase in Houston.

As was the case last go-round with Jared McCain and Sean Stewart earning the nod, two Duke basketball recruiting prizes are McDonald's All-American honorees in Montverde Academy (Fla.) five-star forward Cooper Flagg (No. 1 composite ranking) and North Meck (N.C.) five-star forward Isaiah Evans (No. 14).

The Blue Devils, boasting the top-ranked 2024 class, are one of five programs with two 2024 McDonald's All-Americans. Alabama, Rutgers, Kentucky, and archrival UNC are the others.

Flagg and Evans push Duke's record all-time total to 92 McDonald's All-American Game selections across the honor's 47 years in existence.

RELATED: List of Duke's All-Time McDonald's All-American Honorees

Kon Knueppel is one of three future Blue Devils not on the rosters. The other two, Paul VI Catholic (Va.) teammates in four-star forward Darren Harris (No. 53 composite) and five-star center Patrick Ngongba II (No. 22), felt like longshots due to Harris' four-star rating and Ngongba's months-long absence this season stemming from a foot injury.

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Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball recruiting news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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