Where Tennessee's Dalton Knecht is projected to be picked in ESPN's latest NBA mock draft
ESPN’s latest NBA mock draft update has Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht as a second-round pick, with the Los Angeles Clippers selecting the Northern Colorado transfer wing with the 40th overall pick in the draft.
Knecht is coming off a 37-point performance in Tennessee’s 100-92 loss at North Carolina on Wednesday in the ACC-SEC Challenge at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill. On the season he’s averaging 20.3 points per game while shooting 50.5% from the field and 40.5% from the 3-point line.
“Dalton Knecht’s ability to shoot off movement,” ESPN NBA Draft analyst Jonathan Givony wrote in a social media post on Saturday, “with tremendous footwork, balance and zero wasted motion, especially off inbound plays, is a tailor-made skill for the NBA.
“The 6-foot-6 potential first-round pick is shooting 41% (from the 3-point line) on the season.”
Dalton Knecht's ability to shoot off movement with tremendous footwork, balance and zero wasted motion, especially off inbound plays, is a tailor-made skill for the NBA. The 6'6 potential first round pick is shooting 41% for 3 on the season. pic.twitter.com/JhXHBraF8c
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) December 2, 2023
In three true road games against Power 5 competition — the exhibition win at Michigan State on October 29, the win at Wisconsin on November 10 and this week’s trip to Carolina — Knecht has combined for 89 points on just 48 shots.
“I’ve said it before,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said Wednesday night, “I think Dalton is a guy that can really score.”
His 37 points at North Carolina came on 13-for-17 shooting from the floor. He made a season-high four 3-pointers and went 7-for-8 at the foul line. He scored 22 in the second half alone, making 8 of 9 shots.
He’s now one of just three Tennessee players to score 37 or more points in a game in the least 33 years, with Grant Williams, who did it twice, and Ron Slay. He tied Allan Houston for second-most points scored by a Tennessee player in a road game.
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Knecht had 24 points in the 80-70 win at Wisconsin, going 8-for-15 from the floor, 1-for-4 from the 3-point line and 7-for-9 at the foul line.
He had 28 at Michigan State in his unofficial debut, going 8-for-16 from the floor, 3-for-9 from the 3-point line and 9-for-11 at the foul line.
Knecht scored 17 in the season-opening win over Tennessee Tech on November 6, had 18 against Wofford on November 14 and combined for 46 points over three games in the Maui Invitational, against Syracuse (17), Purdue (16) and Kansas (13).
“I mean, you gotta guard him after half court,” Tennessee fifth-year wing Josiah-Jordan James said on Wednesday. “He’s a three-level scorer … just a dynamic player.”
