Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Recruiting: Real Threat Reemerges in Five-Star Race

Wisconsin looks like a player again for a sharpshooter on Duke basketball's 2024 wishlist.
Matt Giles|
Duke Basketball Recruiting: Real Threat Reemerges in Five-Star Race
Duke Basketball Recruiting: Real Threat Reemerges in Five-Star Race

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A flurry of official visits awaits Wisconsin Lutheran small forward and 2024 Duke basketball target Kon Knueppel. And on Thursday evening, Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook's Mark Miller reported one more: a trip to check out the home-state hopeful Badgers beginning Sept. 12.

That's only a few days after his official visit to Alabama (Sept. 8) and a few days before his trip to ACC country with official stops at Virginia (Sept. 14) and Duke (Sept. 15). First, the 6-foot-6, 215-pound five-star from Milwaukee, No. 22 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, will head a short distance to visit Marquette (Aug. 28).

Miller noted that a "final decision might come by the end of September or early October." In other words, although Kon Knueppel hasn't officially named finalists in his recruitment, it looks as though his five upcoming visits may determine where he lands.

For now, many see Virginia as the frontrunner, primarily due to his family's notably close ties to head coach Tony Bennett, a Wisconsin native who has been in hot pursuit of Knueppel for almost a year.

Consider that Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer didn't join the fray with an offer until early July.

RELATED: Blue Devil Target Set for 'Massively Important' Visit

Still, no 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions have popped up yet. The same is true with the Rivals FutureCast.

Put simply, every program set to host him in the coming weeks appears in the mix.

And, of course, that now includes the late addition to his visit schedule, Wisconsin. It's worth pointing out that Badgers head coach Greg Gard entered the race way back in August 2021, per 247Sports, before Kon Knueppel's sophomore year of high school.

As a junior last season, the high-IQ playmaker and sharpshooter averaged over 20 points per game, draining 51.5 percent of his attempts beyond the arc as a high-volume 3-point weapon. So whichever school ends up with his services, there's no doubt they'll be getting a potential high-scoring gem of a wing at the college level.

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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