Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
Five-Star Recruit Kon Knueppel Schedules Second Official Visit to Virginia
Virginia remains in the hunt for one of the most sought-after basketball players in the recruiting class of 2024. Kon Knueppel, a five-star wing who has firmly established himself as a top 20 recruit in the country, has reportedly scheduled a trio of official visits for the month of September, a tour that will include a second official visit to UVA, per a report from Mark Miller of Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook.
Beginning on July 1st, 2023, new NCAA legislation took effect removing any limitations on the number of official visits recruits can take to NCAA Division I schools. Men's basketball recruits in particular can take two visits to the same school as long as it doesn't take place in the same academic year.
Such will be the case for Kon Knueppel, who previously took an official visit to Virginia back in February, sitting courtside for UVA's victory over Duke. Knueppel will now take an additional official visit to Virginia on September 14th and 15th, in between official visits to Alabama (September 8-10) and Duke (September 15-17).
A 6'6", 215-pound wing, Knueppel is ranked as a top 20 overall prospect by 247Sports, On3, and Rivals, and the 247Sports Composite has him rated as a five-star recruit. That industry composite also has Knueppel ranked as the No. 9 small forward in the country and the No. 1 player in the state of Wisconsin.
Taking a look at his highlights, it's clear why Knueppel has become one of the most prized recruits in the country. Even with a full season of high school basketball still to go, Knueppel already possesses a college-ready body frame and strength. He has a lights-out jumper which is just as effective off the dribble as it is on catch-and-shoot attempts. Knueppel also isn't afraid to put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket, has good pacing on his dribble drives, and is a smooth operator in the paint to get his shot off. Knueppel is the complete package on the offensive end and has the tools to be a more than capable defender.
Although the Cavaliers began recruiting Knueppel before his ascent to become one of the nation's top prospects, offering him back in September, there was some fear that Virginia might be losing its positioning in Knueppel's recruitment as some of the biggest players in college basketball recruiting began to get involved. Alabama offered Knueppel in late June and Duke joined the fray with an offer in early July. Both the Blue Devils and Crimson Tide hauled in top 10 recruiting classes in 2023.
Tony Bennett and the UVA coaching staff have continued to make Knueppel a priority during this summer's live periods and those efforts have been rewarded as Knueppel clearly considers Virginia to be a top contender at this point alongside Duke and Alabama. Knueppel, who plays at Wisconsin Lutheran in Milwaukee, is also still considering remaining in his home state to play college basketball at either Marquette or Wisconsin.
Tony Bennett's roots in the state of Wisconsin have given UVA a big recruiting lift in that area - with Reece Beekman and Leon Bond III being current Cavaliers who are Wisconsin natives. But clearly, there is some hefty competition in Knueppel's recruitment, with Duke and Alabama being Virginia's most significant opponents if he does choose to go outside the state of Wisconsin to play college basketball.
Virginia's odds of winning the Knueppel sweepstakes have gotten longer as these major recruiting players have joined the mix, but Bennett and company aren't giving up on Knueppel, who would be the highest-rated recruit to commit to UVA in the modern era of recruiting tracking. At the very least, the Cavaliers will get one final chance to make their case to Knueppel when he takes his second official visit in September.
Stay updated on all the latest Virginia basketball recruiting news, including offers, visits, and commitments here: Latest Virginia Basketball Recruiting News and Updates
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