Duke Basketball Target Kager Knueppel Soars in Recruiting Rankings

Duke Basketball Target Kager Knueppel Soars in Recruiting Rankings
Kager Knueppel is gaining momentum in his recruitment process. Hugh Straine|
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Duke Blue DevilsHead coach Jon Scheyer and the rest of the Duke basketball staff have begun to get familiar with a few recruits in the 2027 recruiting class.
The Blue Devils have offered two prospects in the 2027 class: 5-star guard Beckham Black, younger brother of current Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black, and Kager Knueppel. Kager is the younger brother of former Blue Devil and current Charlotte Hornet, Kon Knueppel.

Kager Knueppel Has Been on Duke's Radar for a While
Kager Knueppel is one of the earliest recruits that the Duke program has gotten in touch with in the 2027 recruiting class, and the big man is also set up to be one of the biggest risers in the entire class.
Duke offered Knueppel back in late April. The 6'10" forward also holds offers from DePaul, Purdue, Wisconsin, and Toledo.
Despite it being very early in his recruiting process, Knueppel has, for obvious reasons, already been heavily linked to the Blue Devils. In May, the Wisconsin native picked up a crystal ball prediction to land with Duke from Badger247's Jon McNamara.

Kon Knueppel was instrumental in Duke's 2025 Final Four run and also won ACC Tournament MVP after leading the Blue Devils to a conference tournament crown. The 6'7" wing ended his lone year in Durham averaging 14.4 points on 47.9% shooting from the field and 40.6% shooting from three-point range on 5.3 attempts.
Knueppel went on to be selected with the fourth overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2025 NBA Draft, where he put together a historic rookie year in the NBA. The sharpshooter averaged 18.5 points per game on 42.5% shooting from the perimeter on 7.9 attempts. He set the NBA single-season rookie record for made threes with 273 and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting to his former teammate, Cooper Flagg.
Now, the Duke program is showing heavy interest in the next Knueppel brother in line.

Kager Knueppel Sees Big Rise in Recruiting Rankings
247Sports recently updated its 2027 recruiting rankings, and Knueppel saw a massive jump. Knueppel is now the No. 52 overall player in the recruiting class, according to the 247Sports 2027 Composite Rankings, a jump of 28 spots from his previous ranking.
The Wisconsin Lutheran (WI) product is also now the No. 28 overall prospect per the 247Sports 2027 Top150, a massive 94-spot jump from his previous slot.
Knueppel is poised to be one of the biggest risers in the entire 2027 recruiting class, and although the Blue Devils are the favorite to land his services right now, he has said he wants to take his own path in his recruitment process.

“It’s not just 100% Duke. It’s my own path, so I’ll see other schools and have interest in them," Knueppel said in an interview with Rivals.
Now, Kager likely won't be the last Knueppel brother to spark intrigue from Duke. Kinston Knueppel is a member of the 2028 recruiting class and also figures to be one of the top talents in that year as well. Nonetheless, Kager's rise should trigger more competition for Duke to land him.
Published Jun 19, 2026
HUGH STRAINEHugh Straine is an accomplished writer and proud Bucknell University alumnus, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing. He has served as editor of The Bucknellian, worked as an analyst for ESPN+ and Hulu, and currently reports on college sports as a general reporter for On SI.
Follow HughStraineBadenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'

Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming

Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'