The hype machine is already in overdrive for the Duke Blue Devils this season — Cooper Flagg is being called a once-in-a-decade superstar, and Tyrese Proctor is back to run the show like a true floor general. But while everyone’s talking about those two… one guy is quietly breaking the stats board in half.
Meet Kon Knueppel — the “No. 3” in Duke’s preseason power rankings — and the player who might just be No. 1 by Christmas.
Why the Numbers Don’t Lie
In closed-door scrimmages, Knueppel has been cooking defenders:
52% from deep — and he’s firing 6–7 threes a game.
1.3 points per shot — efficiency that’s almost unfair.
Best assist-to-turnover ratio on the squad — yes, he’s dishing as well as swishing.
Why This Matters for Duke
Flagg will be the highlight-reel king. Proctor will be the heartbeat. But Knueppel? He’s the guy who kills you quietly — spacing the floor, hitting dagger threes, and making the extra pass that breaks defenses apart.
If defenses start loading up on Flagg and Proctor, Knueppel’s going to torch teams into oblivion. And if he keeps these numbers up, the conversation by midseason won’t be “Who’s Duke’s third option?” — it’ll be “Is Kon Knueppel Duke’s BEST player?”
Blue Devil Nation — don’t sleep on this one. Screenshots this for later.
