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Rick Barnes on using Dalton Knecht in recruiting: 'People want to know how it happened'

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•10/22/24•

GrantRamey

Dalton Knecht | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
(Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images) Oct 17, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) reacts after making a three point basket against the Phoenix Suns during the overtime period at Footprint Center.

Dalton Knecht was a few days removed from erupting for 35 points in his final preseason game for the Los Angeles Lakers and a few days away from making his official NBA debut in his first regular-season game with his new team.

But there he was on Saturday afternoon, on a video call with his former Tennessee Basketball coaches before the Tennessee-Alabama game at Neyland Stadium. 

It just so happened to be a huge recruiting weekend for the Vols, with 2025 five-star small forward Nate Ament, a 6-foot-9, 185-pound prospect who is ranked No. 4 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking, on an official visit. 

“(Knecht) loves it here,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes told the Knoxville Quarterback Club on Monday. “He loves you all. He loves the fan base. And he always said to me, ‘I wish I were here (more than one year).’ And then he said, ‘I wish I never had to leave.’”

Dalton Knecht NBA Debut: Lakers vs. Timberwolves, Tuesday, 10 p.m. ET, TNT

Knecht scored his 35 points for the Lakers Thursday on 10-for-18 shooting from the floor, going 8-for-13 at the 3-point line. At one point he scored 20 straight points for the Lakers, carrying his team to an overtime win. 

He finished as the preseason’s leading rookie scorer, averaging 18.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 assist per game while shooting 36% from the 3-point line.

“Are we surprised what he’s doing?” Barnes asked. “No, we’re not. Because he’s more athletic than people think. He works so hard and you just going to that he’s going to figure it out. Whatever they tell him he needs to do, he’s gonna work hard at doing that.”

Rick Barnes: ‘Everywhere your go, people want to talk about him’

The Lakers start the regular-season schedule Tuesday night against the Timberwolves, scheduled for a 10 p.m. Eastern Time start on TNT.

Knecht is one of seven former Tennessee players on NBA rosters to open the season, joined by Tobias Harris (Detroit Pistons), Keon Johnson (Brooklyn Nets), Julian Phillips (Chicago Bulls), Josh Richardson (Miami Heat), Jaden Springer (Boston Celtics) and Grant Williams (Charlotte Hornets). 

Knecht was the 17th overall pick in the NBA Draft in June, selected by the Lakers after he averaged 21.7 points in one-and-done All-American season at Tennessee. 

Now Barnes and his staff are selling his story on the recruiting trail, from Northern Colorado to the NCAA Transfer Portal to Tennessee to the first round of the NBA Draft. him being here a year ago. 

“Everywhere you go,” Barnes said, “people want to talk about him. People want to know how it happened.”

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