Kon Knueppel to the Charlotte Hornets? - Scouting Report Notes
Access James Plowright's personal scouting notes for projected Top 8 pick Kon Knueppel
For the first time, I’m sharing my personal scouting notes exclusively for Buzz Beat+ subscribers, focusing on the top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft class. Each profile is divided into strengths and weaknesses, with detailed subsections—such as shooting, playmaking, defense, and more.
After publishing my scouting notes on Ace Bailey and VJ Edgecombe, next up is Duke’s Kon Knueppel.
Knueppel is a thick-bodied, off-ball shooter who flashes real playmaking chops, attacks closeouts with purpose, and holds his own defensively despite clear athletic limitations. What sets him apart is his basketball IQ. It's rare to see a one-and-done prospect make so few mistakes. To borrow a phrase from Steve Clifford, “Everything he does makes sense.”
It’s fair to question Knueppel’s upside. He isn’t particularly shifty, has been limited scoring off the dribble in college, and spent the season in a supporting role next to Cooper Flagg. But just because we didn’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there.
Early in Duke’s training camp, buzz out of Durham was that Knueppel—not Flagg—looked like the best player on the team. That changed as the season wore on, but it hints at untapped potential. It’s also worth noting that Charlotte likely got a close look at Knueppel during their own training camp at Duke last October. The Hornets' pivot from UNC roots under Michael Jordan to a Duke-aligned front office under Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin is a noticeable—and deliberate—shift. One Shining Podcast’s Tate Frazier called it a smart move when he joined a recent Buzz Beat+ episode.
Knueppel ranked second in Kevin Pelton’s ESPN draft analytics model, with the top projection among all prospects who played in the Nike EYBL in 2022 or 2023. He posted a .642 true shooting percentage on 35 percent usage in 2023, a strong indicator that there may be more shot creation in his bag than we saw at Duke.
As of now, Knueppel is tied with Tre Johnson as the betting favorite to go No. 4 to Charlotte, behind Edgecombe. I’d give Knueppel the edge and have him ranked third overall on my board, which shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s followed my work. However, he remains in a tier of five players, which also includes Bailey, Johnson, Edgecombe, and Fears.
Anyway, onto my scouting notes below.