{"id":75862,"date":"2024-05-04T08:00:15","date_gmt":"2024-05-04T12:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=75862"},"modified":"2024-05-04T10:54:10","modified_gmt":"2024-05-04T14:54:10","slug":"dalton-knecht-2024-nba-draft-profile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/05\/04\/dalton-knecht-2024-nba-draft-profile\/","title":{"rendered":"Dalton Knecht 2024 NBA Draft Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dalton Knecht<\/a> became one of the fastest-rising draft prospects due to a stellar college season. Somewhat of an unknown before the season,\u00a0<\/span>Knecht is a<\/span>\u00a0multi-talented scorer who is now considered one of the top prospects in this\u00a0<\/span>year\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0draft.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Let\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0dive into\u00a0<\/span>Knecht\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0game and how it projects in the NBA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dalton Knecht 2024 NBA Draft Profile<\/h2>\n

College Career<\/span><\/h3>\n

Knecht had one of the most unconventional paths to the NBA draft. He started his collegiate career at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado. While at Northeastern\u00a0<\/span>Knecht<\/span>\u00a0had a late growth spurt\u00a0<\/span>shooting<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>up from<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>6\u20193<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>to 6’6<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>after<\/span>\u00a0two seasons at\u00a0<\/span>JUCO<\/span>\u00a0he would transfer to Division 1 Northern Colorado. In his first season, Knecht averaged 8.9 ppg before exploding in his senior year\u00a0<\/span>averaging<\/span>\u00a020 ppg, 7.2 rpg, and shooting 38% on three-pointers. He\u00a0<\/span>was named<\/span>\u00a0to the All-Big Sky team in 2023. <\/span><\/p>\n

Knecht transferred to Tennessee to use his final year of eligibility. At Tennessee\u00a0<\/span>Knecht<\/span>\u00a0reached another level and became one of college\u00a0<\/span>basketball\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0biggest stars. Knecht averaged 21.7 ppg (eighth<\/a> in the country),<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>4.9 rpg, and shot 39% from beyond the arc. His prolific shooting and scoring abilities made him one of the most exciting players in college basketball. Knecht led Tennessee to a 27-9 record\u00a0<\/span>good<\/span>\u00a0for the best record in the SEC\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0a two-seed in the NCAA tournament. <\/span><\/p>\n

As a result, Knecht was awarded the SEC Player of the Year<\/a> and was named a consensus All-American. In the NCAA tournament, Knecht raised his stock even more, averaging an absurd 26\u00a0<\/span>ppg,<\/span>\u00a0while shooting 40% from the three-pointer line en route to leading Tennessee to the Elite Eight. Knecht poured in 37 points and six three-pointers in their Elite Eight game against Purdue. Tennessee ultimately came up short, losing by six points to Purdue however,\u00a0<\/span>Knecht\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0efforts were\u00a0<\/span>nothing short of<\/span>\u00a0incredible. He\u00a0<\/span>was named<\/span>\u00a0to the Midwest’s All-Region team<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>as a result of<\/span>\u00a0his\u00a0<\/span>stellar<\/span>\u00a0play throughout the tournament.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Strengths<\/span><\/h3>\n

Knecht\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0most obvious strength<\/a> is his knockdown shooting ability. Knecht is a career 38% three-point shooter who can\u00a0<\/span>both<\/span>\u00a0spot up and create his own shot. This skill set makes Knecht a dangerous scoring threat and arguably the best shooter<\/a> in the draft class. Additionally, it makes him a safer prospect as\u00a0<\/span>he\u2019ll<\/span>\u00a0bring at least one elite skill to the next level.<\/span><\/p>\n