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Where ESPN ranks Dalton Knecht among NBA prospects in the NCAA Tournament

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey03/21/24GrantRamey
Dalton Knecht in the SEC Tournament, Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
(Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports) Mar 15, 2024; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Dalton Knecht (3) looks on from the sideline during the second half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Bridgestone Arena.

Dalton Knecht is the fourth-best NBA prospect in the NCAA Tournament, according to a ranking of the top 50 published by ESPN on Wednesday. Knecht was the highest-ranked NBA prospect in the tournament’s Midwest Region, coming in just ahead of Purdue’s Zach Edey. 

Kentucky’s Robert Dillingham was the No. 1-ranked prospect, ahead of his Kentucky teammate Reed Sheppard. UConn 7-foot center Donovan Clingan was ranked No. 3, ahead of Knecht. 

“Knecht emerged as Tennessee’s go-to scorer after transferring from Northern Colorado,” ESPN’s Jeremy Woo wrote, “putting himself on the map as a first-round pick while carrying the Volunteers. He was not on the radar this time a year ago but legitimized himself with three-level scoring instincts and the ability to shoot off screens as well as off the bounce.”

Three players from Creighton, the No. 3 seed in the Midwest and a potential Sweet Sixteen opponent should Tennessee advance to the third round, made the cut: Baylor Scheierman (No. 24), Trey Alexander (No. 34) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (No. 41).

Dillon Mitchell, the former five-star prospect and Texas wing, was ranked No. 40.

Knecht scored career-high 40 points vs. Kentucky, had 35 or more in five games

Knecht, who was became a consensus First Team All-American on Wednesday, averaged 21.1 points per game this season and averaged 25.5 per game in SEC play, helping him win SEC Player of the Year and First Team All-SEC honors.

He scored a career-high 40 points in Tennessee’s 85-81 loss to Kentucky on March 9 at Thompson-Boling Arena. In 31 games during the regular season, he scored 25 or more points 10 time this season, 30 or more points seven times, 35 or more points five times and 39 or more points three times, with two 39-point games to go with the 40 he scored against Kentucky.

The 21.1 points points per game for Knecht came on 46.5% from the field and 39.7% from the 3-point line. He added 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, too. 

“His ability to efficiently shoulder a heavy volume has made him one of the most dangerous players in the country,” Woo wrote for ESPN. “On the defensive end, Knecht is often targeted by opponents due to his below-average awareness and slow foot speed, something NBA scouts have scrutinized and a trend that should continue in high-level tournament games.”

Knecht averaged 24.8 points per game in true road games, 25.5 points in SEC regular-season games

Knecht averaged 24.8 points in true road games, shooting 50.8% from the field and 43.0% from the 3-point line. He had 13 or more points in all 11 road games this season and had 22 or more in eight road games and 32 or more in three road games.

His 25.5 points per game in SEC play during the regular season made him the league’s highest-scoring player over the last 22 seasons.

Tennessee (24-8), the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament’s Midwest Region, faces No. 15 Saint Peter’s (19-13) on Thursday (9:20 p.m. ET, TNT) at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.

“For as much as he has the ball,” Woo wrote, “Knecht also isn’t a great playmaker (2.3 assists per 40). If opposing teams can slow him down, the Volunteers can be vulnerable due to the lack of quality shooting around him, something we saw happen against Mississippi State in the SEC tournament. The tourney is a big platform for Knecht to make a statement.”

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