Kon Knueppel looks like part of the X-factor for Duke basketball – Ball Durham

Duke basketball opened the 2024-25 college basketball season with a 107-56 victory against Division II Lincoln (Pa.), where the new roster looked every bit as good as advertised.

Projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg looked like the best player on the floor, finishing with a team-high 22 points to go along with four blocks. Flagg spoke during the offseason about his intensity on defense and how important it is for him to use everything on that end of the ball. Flagg did just that, demonstrating his ability to keep everyone on the floor with constantly active hands and feet.

But fellow freshman Kon Knueppel has proven just how important he will be to this Blue Devils team this season. Knueppel has been getting a lot of attention in the preseason, and ESPN’s Jonathan Givony recently checked out Duke’s struggles on the team, saying that Knueppel looks like the best player on the floor, and it’s not even close. Givony also talked about how Knueppel has the potential to be one of the top shooters in the ACC right from the start of the season.

Knueppel drained five 3-pointers on the night, all in catch-and-shoot situations. He finished the game with seventeen points, five rebounds and three assists. Knueppel has an impressive knack for being in the right place at the right time, always ready to shoot the ball. He also showed how he can make those outside shots from anywhere beyond the arc. The pure shooter that he is, he is always in position to shoot. His hands in the right place, feet and quick release will make him one of the biggest offensive contributors for the Blue Devils this season.

In addition to his shooting, Knueppel also showed off his other skills on the court. Like most of this year’s Duke team, his defensive intensity is as high as anyone on the team with a constant drive to stifle the opposing offense.

He also uses his threat as a shooter to create for his teammates, displaying several pump fakes after taking the ball beyond the arc, making a defender bite, then creating a drive to finish or feed it to a teammate. Although he is a naturally gifted scorer, his eyes as a passer are always up and ready to make a decision when he needs to get the ball out of his hands.

With all the excitement surrounding the Duke basketball program heading into the season, Knueppel was the biggest player in the preseason. It’s uncertain who the starting five will be on opening night, Nov. 4 against Maine, but Knuepel has a real chance to be in that lineup. Even if he isn’t, the versatility Knueppel brings with his shooting, defensive and quick decision-making abilities as a passer will earn him serious minutes throughout the season.