John Fanta
School Basketball Broadcaster and Reporter
Kon Knueppel can bear in mind sitting in his room on Duke’s campus and watching the NBA Draft final June. Earlier than he bought to Durham, there was just one query on his thoughts:
What can I do that summer season to point out that I should get minutes as a freshman at Duke?
However that night time, as he watched one-and-done freshmen Reed Sheppard, Stephon Fortress and Rob Dillingham get chosen within the high 10, to not point out a Duke one-and-done participant in Jared McCain land within the high 20, one thing hit Knueppel.
“After watching the draft, I mentioned to myself, ‘I need that to be me subsequent yr,'” Knueppel instructed FOX Sports activities. “I began getting up at 5:30 a.m. on daily basis in the course of the summer season besides Sundays to work as laborious as doable. I actually, actually take pleasure in simply doing my work and getting out that additional work.”
That is Knueppel, the 60-year-old caught in a 19-year-old’s physique, termed by his household as an “outdated soul” with maturity past his years. He possesses a relentless ardour that matches the requirements of Jon Scheyer and Duke in each method and the instincts and expertise to assist a staff in a wide range of methods when he is on the ground.
The oldest of 5 boys, Knueppel comes from legendary basketball genes within the state of Wisconsin. His father, Kon I, was a four-time All-Lake Michigan Convention choice at Wisconsin Lutheran School, setting the varsity’s document for profession factors with 2,064. His mom, Chari Nordgaard Knueppel, loved an much more legendary profession, being one in every of solely three gamers in Inexperienced Bay girls’s basketball historical past to have her jersey retired because the Phoenix’s all-time main scorer with 1,964 profession factors.
Kon I and Chari knew they had been going to get married simply 11 days into their relationship, after which got here Kon II, who had a particular aura to him that even the nurses at Aurora Sinai Medical Middle observed.
“The day he was born, his eyes had been vivid, large open and targeted,” Chari mentioned. “The nurses mentioned to me, ‘He appears to be like like he is two months outdated already with the way in which that he is you.’ He was taking the whole lot in from Day 1, simply so observant and conscious of everyone. He is been that method his complete life.”
However Knueppel’s love of basketball did not come as quick as his speedy maturation.
“When Kon was 5 and 6 years outdated, he was not into sports activities in any respect,” mentioned Jeff Nordgaard, Knueppel’s uncle on his mother’s aspect, who was a second-round NBA Draft choose of the Milwaukee Bucks in 1996 earlier than taking part in largely internationally on the professional stage for 13 years. “We’re a sports activities household. However he was actually good, utilizing phrases in his vocabulary that had been past what any of the little children would say.
“We had been beginning to assume he can be a non-athlete, which was completely positive, however nonetheless a kind of issues that stunned us.”
After which, one buy made by the Knueppel household modified the whole lot:
The Nintendo Wii.
His dad and mom didn’t beforehand have a online game console in the home and made it a degree to restrict these varieties of issues. However with out that Wii, Knueppel would possibly’ve by no means developed the love for the sport of basketball he has now.
“I did not like basketball earlier than the Wii. I simply wasn’t enthusiastic about it rising up,” Knueppel mentioned. “However we bought that Wii and I began taking part in NBA Jam and 2K. I fell in love with gamers. From there, I used to be passionate to seek out out as a lot as I humanly might about NBA gamers.
“My obsession in all probability sort of bought ridiculous, however that is how I fell in love with the sport. Clearly, while you couple that with nice coaches and fogeys, they actually inspired it. However that Wii modified all of it.”
Along with his love for the Wii, Knueppel additionally developed a ardour for studying about basketball, particularly the “Massive Guide of Basketball.”
“He learn the Massive Guide of Basketball in all probability about 4 occasions, beginning when he was 10 years outdated,” Chari mentioned. “So then he wished to speak to individuals about the whole lot he learn. That is simply who he’s: an outdated soul.”
Knueppel took that keenness from video video games and studying to the court docket, and it did not take lengthy for Norgaard, who coached Knueppel in fourth and fifth grade within the AAU ranks, to know that his nephew was completely different.
“At the moment, his really feel and IQ was that of a highschool child,” Norgaard mentioned of Knueppel. “He was very expert however not overly spectacular bodily. His really feel, poise and composure, alongside along with his shotmaking, made him stand out above the remainder.”
For Knueppel, the considered taking part in basketball, particularly on the Division I stage, had by no means crossed his thoughts. He was taking part in a number of sports activities and simply embracing being a child, even when he entered the ninth grade at Wisconsin Lutheran Excessive College.
“Even going into my freshman yr of highschool, I knew I used to be a superb participant within the state and in center faculty, however I nonetheless thought I would in all probability find yourself taking part in Division III ball at Wisconsin Lutheran School or one thing,” Knueppel mentioned. “Nevertheless it grew to become evident fairly early on that I in all probability might be a low-major to mid-major Division I participant. After which, I simply stored working and by the tip of my freshman yr, that summer season of AAU is when issues took off for me.”
For the proud Milwaukee native, it was a visit to his hometown Marquette College’s staff camp that modified all of it.
“I simply bear in mind Shaka Sensible explaining drills for us, after which we would leap into a few video games adopted by open apply,” Knueppel mentioned. “When our staff was on the court docket and he was explaining stuff to us, I observed he was me rather a lot. Proper after that, one of many assistants talked to me and the following day, I bought a suggestion over the cellphone from them. After which, proper after that, I instructed my dad and mom I needed to get a complete lot higher as a result of I did not assume I used to be that good but.”
Two extra years glided by, and with it got here gives from Alabama, Wisconsin, Virginia, Notre Dame, USC and extra. Being from such a tight-knit household, Knueppel thought lengthy and laborious about staying near house.
“It was a super-tough resolution as a result of I did wish to keep close to house,” Knueppel mentioned. “That was my authentic thought course of — till I visited Duke. I beloved how small the campus was. There was such attraction to it, to not point out the workers being nice individuals and having the ability to play on a fantastic staff, so I instructed myself: ‘If a campus was in Milwaukee, the place would I am going?’ Finally, that was Duke.”
Knueppel’s dad and mom made it clear that the choice was as much as him, and in the long run, Duke was the clear selection.
“When he instructed us he wished to go to Duke, we mentioned ‘Why?’ And he responded: ‘I wish to play towards the perfect gamers on daily basis in apply, as a result of that may make me higher. I wish to hold it enjoyable and taking part in on a giant stage in each sport I play in, with a soldout crowd, is numerous enjoyable.’
“The third factor was to compete for a nationwide championship. It was that straightforward, and we had been bought. Between taking part in highway video games in packed homes, the ambiance of Cameron Indoor Stadium and when it’s a must to guard Cooper Flagg or attempt to drive on Khaman Maluach or taking part in with veterans like Mason Gillis and Sion James, that is the final word check.”
Quick-forward to current day, and Knueppel has loved a standout freshman season. He has helped lead the Blue Devils to a spot within the Ultimate 4, combining for 41 factors, 9 rebounds and eight assists in wins over Arizona (Candy 16) and Alabama (Elite Eight). The 6-foot-7 sharpshooting guard has proven why he is projected to be a top-10 choice on this summer season’s NBA Draft, however not the whole lot has regarded like a Hollywood film script for Knueppel this season.
“I used to be actually homesick once I bought to Duke,” Knueppel mentioned. “Clearly, I am actually shut with my 4 brothers (Kager, Kinston, Kash and Child) so I missed them. However you already know, I used to be capable of actually lean into basketball, and I used to be within the fitness center on a regular basis in the summertime, leaning into the fellows, managers and coaches. Finally, I bought comfy.”
Knueppel relied upon his classmates: Flagg, Muluach and Darren Harris, together with a sixth-year grad pupil in Neal Begovic, who Knueppel bought to know when he went on a go to to Stanford as a sophomore in highschool.
“Neal actually helped me,” Knueppel mentioned. “He is a fantastic pal and bought me accustomed to school life. He invited me over each Sunday to look at soccer. These varieties of issues actually helped.”
Knueppel’s highway to being one of many high stars heading into this yr’s Ultimate 4 has been an enchanting one. He began his school profession with 22 factors on 8-for-14 capturing from the ground towards Maine. Two video games later towards Kentucky, he was performed in by a 5-for-20 exhibiting in a loss. In Duke’s win over Auburn in early December, he solely took three pictures. Nevertheless, in his final 13 video games, Knueppel has notched 14-or-more factors in all however one in every of them, the Blue Devils’ first-round event win over Mount St. Mary’s.
“I believe numerous it’s studying,” Chari mentioned. “I believe you are in a distinct place in school as a freshman in December than you’re in March and April. He had numerous nice individuals serving to him to be aggressive and to play extra freely. The workers desires him to do this and I believe he is gotten higher and higher at that because the yr’s gone on.
“I like 5-for-22 higher than 2-for-3, personally. However there have been positively ups and downs, ebbs and flows to a school season, however that made him stronger, and now he is bought two video games left to let it fly in a Duke uniform.”
Knueppel has been taking part in his greatest basketball of the season as late, capturing 11-for-22 from the ground and 4-of-6 from 3-point territory over his final two video games. His presence for this Duke staff on each ends of the ground is important as a result of he performs largely mistake-free basketball whereas being a stable defensive presence and a greater passer than the numbers present.
“This man’s a stud proper right here,” Scheyer mentioned of Knueppel on the TBS postgame interview after Duke’s 85-65 East Regional Ultimate win over Alabama. “He is the final word warrior, competitor, and he actually carried us all through tonight.
“Kon’s versatility is big for us, and his dimension. He is capable of move. He is capable of end. You’re feeling he is all the time going to get off a superb look as a result of he has nice pivots within the paint and nice persistence.”
That aggressive nature comes from rising up in a blue-collar family, with Chari operating a daycare since 2006 and Kon I working as a faculty counselor within the Milwaukee public faculties system. Chari does have plans to retire this summer season to concentrate on all of her 5 boys and their busy basketball schedules.
“We knew we wished a number of children and we had 5 in 5 and a half years,” Chari mentioned with amusing. “I actually wasn’t paying for daycare with how a lot that was going to value, so I made a decision to remain house and run the daycare.”
Even when operating that daycare, although, Chari was motivating her youngsters to hit the fitness center to get extra pictures up.
“I’m actually fierce about attending to the fitness center on daily basis,” Char saidi. “My husband might generally be like, ‘Hey, they already had apply. They already bought their elevate in. Cannot we give them the time without work?’ And I am like, ‘No method!’ We’ll get at the very least 100 pictures up. We’re for positive doing that.”
That work ethic instilled within the Knueppel boys is what drives them to be nice, and in return, has created a dilemma heading into Ultimate 4 Week. Kager, 17, and Kinston, 16, each have their opening weekend of AAU ball. Whereas mother thought it might be greatest for the 2 boys to affix their youthful brothers for Saturday’s showdown with Houston, the ever-competitive Kon II stepped in.
“I all the time say, ‘You do not miss basketball to look at basketball,’ Knueppel mentioned. “I get it is the Ultimate 4, but when they wish to play the sport, I believe they need to play. I believe they’re relying on us to get it performed on Saturday, however that is going to be an absolute battle.”
However Chari and Kon I’s parenting goes past instructing their youngsters about having an accurate work ethic. Having character and robust ethical and moral qualities is extraordinarily necessary to Knueppel, who can be very connected to his religion.
“When Duke was taking part in Louisville within the ACC Event, the Louisville energy coach requested all of our managers who was the perfect participant to them? Who was it that handled them the perfect? They usually all mentioned Kon,” Chari mentioned. “After Kon received the ACC Event MVP, he texted his dad and I saying, ‘I simply wished to share this little nugget with you.’ And we had been extra proud about that than the ACC MVP.
“For his dad and I, that is what actually issues to us. Meaning greater than something that has to do with basketball, that you are a good Christian and that you simply deal with individuals the appropriate method.”
As for what lies forward for Knueppel on the basketball court docket, it is a date with a Houston staff that enters the Ultimate 4 having received 30 of its final 31 video games whereas proudly owning the No. 1-ranked protection in America and holding Tennessee to fifteen factors within the first half, the fewest by a top-2 seed in NCAA Event historical past.
Knueppel introduced up how a lot he has admired Houston’s DNA through the years.
“They’re machines, man,” Knueppel mentioned. “They play for him. They simply play so laborious and it’s totally, very admirable watching them play. Generally it isn’t the prettiest offensively, however it would not matter one bit as a result of they play so laborious on protection. L.J. Cryer can fill it up and on the boards. They’re unreal.”
Not dangerous for a scouting report from Knueppel. Not dangerous for a child who thought he can be fortunate to get a D3 provide as a freshman in highschool, solely to turn into a five-star prospect and probably the most sought-after recruits within the nation. Not dangerous for an outdated soul who has those self same large eyes born out of Aurora Sinai Hospital set on a nationwide championship.
John Fanta is a nationwide school basketball broadcaster and author for FOX Sports activities. He covers the game in a wide range of capacities, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Community to offering commentary on The Area of 68 Media Community. Comply with him at @John_Fanta.
Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, and observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized publication day by day!
Get extra from School Basketball Comply with your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
Supply hyperlink
