The 2024 NBA Draft will be a two-day event that begins on Wednesday, June 26. This year’s class includes young talent, international stars, and collegiate veterans. One of those tenured college players is Tennessee Volunteers guard Dalton Knecht.
The senior wasted little time in making an impact after transferring to the Vols for the 2023-2024 season. He spent the first two years of his career at a JUCO, followed by two more at Northern Colorado, and earned All-Big Sky Second-team honors as a sophomore.
Dalton Knecht Draft Profile
Knecht started all 32 games in his second season at Northern Colorado. He averaged 20.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, which helped him transfer to Tennessee. However, with the increased level of competition, there was worry that he would take a step back.
The 6 ft. 5 guard did anything but. Knecht started all 36 games for the Volunteers last year and averaged 21.7 points. He took a step back in rebounding, only averaging 4.9 boards, but that didn’t stop him from finishing as a First-team All-American.
Knecht will likely be listed as a guard, but he can really play either the two or three in an NBA lineup. He can do the most damage from the wing and even won the 2024 Julius Erving Award, given to the best small forward in the nation. All of this has helped him consistently land in the top 10 for mock drafts.
Strengths
Is there anywhere on the court that Knecht can’t score from? If so, he didn’t find it at Tennessee. He can hit from range, create space from dribbling and slashing, and finish at the rim. Knecht is a good passer despite not resulting in many assists while in college. He has a strong first move when receiving the ball, which further helps him create space. The biggest skill is his shooting, but his offensive versatility is a tremendous strength. When he gets hot shooting, look out, as he is known to knock down five or six shots in a row.
Weaknesses
Knecht’s biggest knock has been his defense. While he has good speed with the ball, scouts have noted that he struggles with lateral movement. Offenses are prone to attack him, and that could hinder his ability to play the three at the next level against bigger opponents. On the flip side, Knecht didn’t ever do well when challenged by length. There are some two’s and three’s in the NBA who are straight up lanky and could pose a huge threat to his shooting ability.
Player comparison: Mike Miller
It may be a little too on the nose for leaning on the three-point shooting ability, but Miller feels like a good comp. The biggest difference is that Miller had three inches on Knecht and was more of a small forward first, shooting guard second. Still, Knecht could play a similar role at the next level. Miller shot 40% from deep during his 17-year career. It feels like Knecht is also a more versatile Jimmer Fredette in that he can score from anywhere at any time. Defenses are going to have to key on him, which could also help open up the offense around him.