Why Knecht may emerge as 2024 NBA Draft's biggest surprise

Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Why Dalton Knecht may emerge as 2024 NBA Draft's biggest surprise

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jun 19, 2024 4:35 PM ET

Most experts consider the 2024 NBA Draft as a weak class, but could Tennessee Volunteers guard Dalton Knecht be the hidden gem teams are looking for?

CBS Sports' Matt Norlander is banking on Knecht's upside, predicting that he will have the best pro career out of the top prospects in the draft.

"I went back and forth a dozen times on who to go with at No. 1. Big picture, I'm betting on the uncertainty of this year's draft class leading to an unsuspecting player winding up as the best pick—and for that player to get taken outside of the top five," Norlander wrote of Knecht. "I'm gambling on picking him to be the best NBA player of 2024's draft class because of his dead-eye aim, his size, confidence, toughness and ability to be a flamethrower in the NBA."

Knecht's size (6-foot-5, 204 pounds) and scoring ability will likely attract teams. In 36 games last season, the 23-year-old averaged 21.7 points per game, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 46.1% shooting from the field.

Knecht also proved he can step up in big moments. In the NCAA Tournament, the 2023-24 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year registered 26 PPG on an astounding 40% shooting from three-point range.

DALTON KNECHT FAST BREAK JAM #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/C5T21hLAak
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 31, 2024

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor rates Knecht as the ninth-best prospect in the class. While he touted his scoring ability, he shared the guard must improve his lateral quickness to avoid becoming a defensive liability.

"[Knecht is] targeted by opponents because he's usually the weakest link on defense," wrote O'Connor. "This will often be true in the NBA, too, unless he improves his ability to move laterally."

Despite the defensive concerns, Knecht could still emerge as one of the better players from this draft. He clearly has skills teams covet.

In their latest mock draft, ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have the Charlotte Hornets taking Knecht with the No. 6 pick. Givony hinted it would be a surprise if he falls out of the top 10, as "teams in the Nos. 4-9 range [are] all expressing significant interest, except Detroit at No. 5."

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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