NBA Draft Profile- Dalton Knecht

At Draft Nation, the NBA draft talk never ends. We will get you ready for the 2024 draft with player profiles and mock drafts so you can see who your favorite team may add to their roster. 

Today’s Spotlight - Tennessee, Guard/Forward, Dalton Knecht

Name- Dalton Knecht

Pos- Guard/Forward

Team- Tennessee

HT/WT- 6’6” 215 lbs

Born- 4/19/2001

Home – Thornton, CO

Dalton Knecht grew up in Thornton, Colorado and attended Prairie View High School. He entered his sophomore year at 5'8" and grew to 6'1" by his junior year. He put it all together during his senior season, averaging 21 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

He began his college basketball career at Northeastern Junior College. He averaged 13.3 points for the Plainsmen as a freshman. He grew another 5" while playing at Northeastern, to bring his height to 6'6". After a huge season as a sophomore where he averaged 23.9 points he committed to transfer to Northern Colorado.

After a so-so first season with the Bears, he led the Big Sky Conference with 20.2 points per game as a senior. After the season he decided to use his extra year of eligibility and transferred to Tennessee University.

Knecht made the most of his extra season for the Volunteers. He was named the SEC Player of the Year and the SEC Newcomer of the Year and also established himself as a first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Knecht shoots the 3-pointer with crisp mechanics and does not need much space or time to get the shot up. He's a creative shooter and shoots well off the dribble, as well as off balance. And he has a penchant for making difficult shots regularly. 

Knecht is an excellent slasher who changes speeds effectively to beat defenders to the rim. He uses his body well to set up fouls and averages almost 6 free throws a game. He stretches the defense with his shot making ability and uses head fakes to his advantage to drive to the rim. 

Knecht is more experienced than most in this draft, playing collegiately for 5 seasons. Teams will not be as patient with his development as they could be with an 18 year old. He is a one-dimensional player who does not add a lot to the defensive side of the ball. He is athletic but does not slide well on defense or show the urgency needed to shut down opponents. And unfortunately, he does not offer much when it comes to playmaking ability. All his creativity is based on scoring and getting off his shot. Only averaged 1.7 assists at Tennessee.

Strengths

• Cutting to the Hoop
• Creative
• 3-point Shooting

Weaknesses

• Age
• Defense
• Lacks Playmaking ability

Final Analysis

Dalton Knecht is a late bloomer who has put himself firmly in the top half of the draft. He can step in and become an effective scorer right away in the NBA. He is not a complete player and will be a liability at times on the defensive end of the ball. He is one of the most polished scorers in the draft. A team with an established starting 5 will love for Knecht to fall to them. He projects as a solid bench player with the chance to start down the road. 

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