Future Duke Basketball Wing Ends Opponent's 42-Game Winning Streak

Elite Duke basketball signee Kon Knueppel caught fire in his latest outing.

Matt Giles | Jan 14, 2024

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

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Wisconsin Lutheran forward Kon Knueppel, who committed to the Duke basketball program in September and inked his national letter of intent during the early signing period in November, is an extremely potent three-level scorer. He put his bucket-getting prowess on full display in his 13-0 squad's 70-68 victory on Saturday night.

The opponent, De Pere High School, featuring a 2025 Wisconsin commit in three-star shooting guard Zach Kinziger, entered the matchup with a 12-0 record this season while riding a 42-game overall winning streak. The program hadn't lost a game since March 2022.

But Knueppel's career-high 38 points, his fifth 30-point effort as a senior, proved too much for De Pere to overcome. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound five-star, No. 16 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, shot 12-for-22 from the field, 6-for-12 beyond the arc, and 8-for-10 at the charity stripe, adding eight rebounds and two assists.

Kon Knueppel, an advanced talent with the potential to contribute immediately for Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer, is one of four five-star prospects in a five-deep 2024 Blue Devil recruiting class that ranks No. 1 in the country.

He'll arrive in Durham in the summer alongside the top-ranked prep in the cycle, Montverde Academy (Fla.) five-star forward Cooper Flagg, plus North Meck (N.C.) five-star forward Isaiah Evans and a pair of Paul VI Catholic (Va.) products in five-star center Patrick Ngongba II and four-star forward Darren Harris.

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

Published Jan 14, 2024

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.