Duke basketball's first 2027 commit has a familiar last name

2 hours ago 2

Kager Knueppel has made his college decision and it's a no-brainer.

The four-star brother of Charlotte Hornets' star Kon Knueppel will be headed to Duke.

Knueppel is a blue-chip power forward and is the No. 28 player in the 2027 basketball recruiting class, according to 247Sports. He averaged 16.5 points per game in EYBL ball last season and shot 50.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Believe it or not, Knueppel had a grand total of five offers, with Duke beating out Purdue, Wisconsin, Toledo and Arkansas. He became Jon Scheyer's first commitment in the Blue Devils' future class. A tremendous start after securing the No. 2 class in the nation for 2026.

Kon, who was a five-star in Duke's 2024 recruiting class, was the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The runner-up for Rookie of the Year averaged 18.5 points per game last season. He also set the NBA record for threes in a single season by a rookie. Knueppel would've been the best newcomer in the league if it wasn't for Duke teammate Cooper Flagg tearing up the scene in Dallas.

Kager hopes to have the same level of success as his brother in Durham. He could be joined by another sibling of an NBA player next year. No. 2 overall prospect Beckham Black, the brother of Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black, has been a target for Duke.