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Cooper Flagg’s teammate comes from family of hoopers including ex Bucks man and might be second best player in NBA draft
Everyone knows Cooper Flagg. By the end of the NCAA tournament, there’s a good chance everyone will know Flagg’s teammate, Kon Knueppel. Knueppel is Flagg’s star running mate That is if they don’t already. While Flagg generates all the headlines and attention, his fellow freshman teammate is also a certified hooper. Knueppel was a five-star prospect out of Wisconsin Lutheran High School and ranked No. 16 nationally by 247Sports and No. 22 by ESPN. He was no slouch coming into Durham. And his freshman year campaign proved it. Knueppel averaged 14.4, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists on a Duke team that earned a one seed in the tournament, won both the ACC regular season title and conference tournament title, while finishing with a 31-3 overall record. He made the conference’s All-Tournament team. While Flagg went down with an ankle injury early in the ACC tournament, Knueppel and the rest of the Blue Devils picked up the slack and brought home another conference title to Durham. Now their eyes are on the ultimate goal. The national championship. Knueppel is projected to be a lottery pick Flagg and Knueppel have formed one of college basketball’s most dominant duo this season Duke is one of the heavy favorites as the tournament begins. And if they want to win its sixth national title in school history, Knueppel is going to have to have a good tournament. And with Flagg returning from his ankle injury, there’s no telling how he will play out of the gate. Luckily for Duke, hooping is in Knueppel’s blood. His uncle, Jeff Nordgaard, had a short stint with the Milwaukee Bucks and played professionally in Europe for nearly a decade. His father played at Wisconsin Lutheran College where he was the school’s all-time leading scorer up until 2019. March Madness Top Stories Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson ‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment In other words, Knueppel was born with a basketball in his hand. While Flagg is expected to be the first pick in the NBA draft, Knueppel won’t be that far behind him. The 6′ 7″ guard is projected to be a lottery pick. And if everything goes according to plan, both Flagg and Knueppel will head to the Association as national champions. How to watch March Madness in the UK *If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions. This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years. talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service. Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
Everyone knows Cooper Flagg.
By the end of the NCAA tournament, there’s a good chance everyone will know Flagg’s teammate, Kon Knueppel.
That is if they don’t already.
While Flagg generates all the headlines and attention, his fellow freshman teammate is also a certified hooper.
Knueppel was a five-star prospect out of Wisconsin Lutheran High School and ranked No. 16 nationally by 247Sports and No. 22 by ESPN.
He was no slouch coming into Durham.
And his freshman year campaign proved it.
Knueppel averaged 14.4, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists on a Duke team that earned a one seed in the tournament, won both the ACC regular season title and conference tournament title, while finishing with a 31-3 overall record.
He made the conference’s All-Tournament team.
While Flagg went down with an ankle injury early in the ACC tournament, Knueppel and the rest of the Blue Devils picked up the slack and brought home another conference title to Durham.
Now their eyes are on the ultimate goal.
The national championship.
Duke is one of the heavy favorites as the tournament begins.
And if they want to win its sixth national title in school history, Knueppel is going to have to have a good tournament.
And with Flagg returning from his ankle injury, there’s no telling how he will play out of the gate.
Luckily for Duke, hooping is in Knueppel’s blood.
His uncle, Jeff Nordgaard, had a short stint with the Milwaukee Bucks and played professionally in Europe for nearly a decade.
His father played at Wisconsin Lutheran College where he was the school’s all-time leading scorer up until 2019.
March Madness Top Stories
Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson
‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance
NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever
Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment
In other words, Knueppel was born with a basketball in his hand.
While Flagg is expected to be the first pick in the NBA draft, Knueppel won’t be that far behind him.
The 6′ 7″ guard is projected to be a lottery pick.
And if everything goes according to plan, both Flagg and Knueppel will head to the Association as national champions.
How to watch March Madness in the UK
*If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue
March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions.
This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years.
talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service.
Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
