Wildcats Today

Report: Kentucky Reaching Out to Northern Colorado Transfer Dalton Knecht

The All-Big Sky Second Team member was 23rd in the country in points-per-game this season.
Hunter Shelton|
Report: Kentucky Reaching Out to Northern Colorado Transfer Dalton Knecht
Report: Kentucky Reaching Out to Northern Colorado Transfer Dalton Knecht

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Kentucky WildcatsNorthern Colorado Bears

With the 2022-23 college basketball season ending on April 3, expect transfer portal talks to ramp up in a way that was similar to the college football offseason. 

Names upon names will announce their entry — many have already done so — as they seek new programs and fresh starts. Kentucky basketball has already had one of its own enter the portal, as point guard Sahvir Wheeler is leaving UK after two seasons.

Two names have been connected to coach John Calipari's Wildcats since the portal opened — Chris Ledlum (Harvard) and Puff Johnson (North Carolina). On Thursday, a third name popped up on the radar. 

Dalton Knecht, a 6-foot-6 senior guard, is portaling after two seasons at Northern Colorado. Sean Paul of the Mountain West Wire reported that Kentucky was one of many programs that have reached out to the Thornton, Co. native: 

Knecht played his first two seasons of college ball at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado before transferring to UNC. In his first season with the Bears, Knecht started in 11 of 35 games, averaging 24.1 minutes. He managed 8.9 points and 3.6 rebounds-per-game, shooting 43.6 percent from the floor and 36.1 percent from 3-point range. 

He then became a permanent starter this season, manning his spot in the starting five for all 32 of UNC's games. Averaging over 35 minutes a night, Knecht led his team averaging 20.2 points (23rd in the nation), 7.8 boards and 1.8 assists. His shooting percentages went up to 47.9 percent from the floor and 38.1 percent from behind the arc. 

Knecht had 18 games with 20 or more points this season, including a 34-point performance in a win over Idaho on Jan. 21. He managed a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double in a loss to Baylor early in the season, one of five double-doubles he had all year. He was selected to the All-Big Sky Second Team. 

With other blue bloods like North Carolina and Kansas in the mix, landing Knecht won't be an easy feat. It's unknown just how hard Kentucky will hit the portal this offseason, as many decisions are still to be made from players on the 2022-23 roster. 

Ledlum has since taken a visit to Indiana and met with new St. John's head coach Rick Pitino. A tweet from insider Adam Zagoria on March 22 listed a batch of teams that were still in on the Harvard transfer, but Kentucky was not one of the 17 listed:

Calipari and the Tar Heel transfer Johnson both hail from Moon Township, Pa., planting a connection that could lead to Kentucky making an effort to land the former top-100 recruit. 

All eyes will be on the portal this offseason in college basketball. 

Pros and Cons of Tshiebwe Returning for a Third Season at Kentucky

More on the soon-to-be Wildcats HERE.

Inside Kentucky basketball's somber locker room after NCAA Tourney defeat HERE.

More on the potential roster overhaul in Lexington HERE.

More on the loss to Kansas State HERE.

Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.

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Hunter Shelton
HUNTER SHELTON

Hunter Shelton is a writer for Sports Illustrated-FanNation's Wildcats Today, covering football, basketball, baseball and more at the University of Kentucky. Hunter is a Lexington native and has been on the UK beat since 2021.