Kon Knueppel

Knueppel finished as the leading scorer in the EYBL regular season with almost 23 points per game. He’s not built like a prototypical wing scorer or playmaker as he has a naturally broader build without standout quickness or leaping ability, but what he may lack in natural athletic gifts, he compensates for with physical strength, competitiveness, a terrific mind for the game, and a skill-set that is as polished as it is versatile. Knueppel is an excellent shooter, who connected on almost 47% of his attempts from behind the arc in the spring, but he can also operate from various spots on the floor. He can bring the ball up, initiate offense and play-make. While he’s not blowing by many defenders, he’s an efficient handler who can drive both sides, drop his body to maintain balance through contact, and never gets sped-up. He’s also a threat to take smaller defenders into the post where he can utilize his strength to his advantage. What is constant, regardless of where he attacks, is his ability to dictate his own pace, read the defense, and be a heady passer if he draws secondary defenders or forces rotations. Defensively, there may be times where he can struggle to keep quicker wings in front of him in space, but he’s smart and competitive enough to be in all the right spots and show plenty of fight. He’s also physical switching onto bigger players in the post, and fronting them. Overall, Knueppel is one of the better offensive players in the class. He’s skilled, smart, efficient, productive, and able to create match-ups problems all over the floor. Long-term, his upside will be tied to his ability to hold his own on the defensive end of the floor as the game gets quicker and more athletic.