“Follow your dreams, make your dream your job, and make your job your life, and everything will be fine.” That’s what Kon Knueppel said in 2024 to his fellow teammate Caleb Foster, and he certainly has followed that motto on his basketball journey. His high school career established him as a five-star recruit and a great offensive player, making him a highly anticipated college recruit.
Getting him wasn’t easy, as many big programs were in pursuit of the guard. But he finally made his decision and enrolled with the Duke Blue-men Devils, and after a much-awaited wait, the freshman finally made his college debut on November 4, against Maine in Duke’s season opener. The guard instantly made an impact, becoming the top scorer in the match-up, scoring 22 points. Over the season, the Guard has delivered consistent performances, showing signs of becoming a Duke Star. And now, everyone is keen on knowing his background, so let’s dive into his early life and journey.
Kon Knueppel’s early life and family background
The 19-year-old has a deep-rooted connection with basketball, and it runs within his family. Born on August 3, 2005, Kon grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and attended Wisconsin Lutheran High School. The same school that his father, also named Kon, once attended and made plays during his days, and he ended up scoring over 2,000 career points for the program. He was the team’s all-time leading scorer until 2019 and also had a team with his brothers Klint, Kole, and Klay that participated in the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament.
Even Kon’s mother, Chari Knueppel, was part of the UW-Green Bay women’s basketball team and is also the leading all-time scorer for the program with 1,964 points. Also, his uncle from his mother’s side, Jeff Nordgaard, had a stint in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks and enjoyed a successful career in Europe.
High School Career at Wisconsin Lutheran
Kon Knueppel’s stint at Lutheran was nothing short of remarkable. As a freshman, he averaged 10.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, making a name for himself early on. By his Junior year, he had reached an average of 19.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Then came the 2024 season, where Kon single-handedly guided the Vikings to a state championship title.
The Brotherhood just got bigger. pic.twitter.com/Dv4KSHW7NK
— Kon II Knueppel (@Kon2Knueppel) September 21, 2023
His efforts with the team were surreal that season, averaging 25.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game as a senior. That season, the Vikings achieved a flawless 30-0 record, beating Pewaukee 83-62 in the championship game. Kon contributed a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists, earning him the Wisconsin Mr. Basketball Award for the 2023-24 season.
When talking about his early years, Kon has often remarked that playing against older players during high school shaped his play a lot. “I think learning that physicality, how to get open, how to score over guys that are older, but also guys that can’t move as well anymore, I’m just learning by watching how they score and how they get off their shot. It’s just really important to be balanced; that’s how you make plays…I was in ninth grade and he’s just beating me on all these backdoor cuts,” he once said, and we can almost hear the awe of revelation the ninth-grader must have felt.
NIL Valuation and Net Worth
Away from the court, Kon finds himself in the limelight with his NIL deals. Recently, the shooting guard signed a NIL deal with Dollar Shave Club, becoming the Brand ambassador of this grooming products company. In a creative approach, he also brought in his parents into his NIL activities. In a Dollar Shave campaign, he competed against his parents in a fun game of “SHAVE.”
One of Knueppel’s notable ventures includes the launch of an exclusive apparel collection in collaboration with Campus Ink’s NIL Store. This initiative is not only exciting for fans as they get to have their favorite star’s merchandise, but it also highlights Kon’s entrepreneurial spirit. He promoted this collection on social media, encouraging fans to “Get your #7 merch at the Duke NIL Store.“
As of now, no specific numbers for Kon Knueppel’s NIL valuation have been made public or confirmed. That said, it is interesting to note that his Duke teammate, Cooper Flagg, has quite a high valuation of $4.8 million. This provides some context for how high earning potential within Duke’s basketball program exists, which makes Knueppel’s NIL value potentially significant based on him being a blue-chip recruit.
Knueppel Shines as Duke Clinches ACC Title
Duke has been undeniably the team to watch out for this season, and with the addition of freshman stars like Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg, the program is bound to reach new heights this season, and Saturday was a glimpse of what is yet to come. In their final regular game for the season, Duke matched up against UNC and defeated the host comfortably (82-69).
Duke saw their 15-point first-half lead slip away and found themselves down by seven early in the second half. But when it mattered most, they responded with a dominant 12-0 run, shifting the momentum and quieting a fired-up opposing crowd.
Kon was the key in this game, scoring the most, 17 points at the Dean Smith Center for Duke, and ensured that the Blue Devils clinched their ACC regular season title. After the game, Knueppel fondly reflected on his time in Durham; “It’s an incredible place, on and off the court,“ Knueppel said. “The best people in the world. I’ve made some incredible connections all over the place here. I’m just so grateful that I came here and got this opportunity.”
Here, it is a notable mention to be made that Kon was one of the top players in the 2024 class and had a plethora of offers in hand. Ultimately, he went to Duke University, choosing the Blue Devils over programs like Alabama, Virginia, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Marquette, and USC. And it seems like his decision has been paying off consistently. Also, his style of play has been likened to that of NBA legend Chris Mullin. Both are praised for their shooting ability and basketball intelligence.
So, it is fair to say that while Kon Knueppel’s journey is just beginning, he has already proven himself to be a key player for Duke. From his high school dominance to his impact as a freshman, his future in basketball looks incredibly bright.
The post Kon Knueppel Net Worth, NIL Value, and High School Stats: Exploring Duke Star’s Earnings and Early Life appeared first on EssentiallySports.
