Sharpshooter Dalton Knecht slides to Lakers at 17th overall
The Los Angeles Lakers picked Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht with the No. 17 selection of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old began his collegiate career at the JUCO level before transferring to Northern Colorado for two seasons, finishing as a fifth-year senior with the Volunteers.
Knecht won the 2023-24 SEC Player of the Year, helping Tennessee capture its first conference regular-season title since 2018 and propelling the Volunteers to just their second Elite Eight in school history.
Bio
Position: Shooting Guard
School: Tennessee
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 212lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-9
Max Vertical: 39 inches
2023-24 statistics with Tennessee
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 45.8 | 39.7 | 77.2 | 4.9 | 1.8 | 21.7 |
Knecht's 6-foot-5 frame and outside shooting will allow him to get on the floor from Day 1. His lightning-quick release means he can shoot over much taller and longer players without being bothered by a contest. According to Synergy Sports, Knecht is elite in catch-and-shoot situations, hitting 46.6% of his unguarded attempts and 40.3% of his guarded catch-and-shoot threes.
NBA comparable: He's a bigger and more athletic Buddy Hield. Knecht is a late bloomer who lit up college as a scorer. It's easy to close your eyes and picture him running off screens the way that Hield does in the NBA. Like Hield, Knecht will need to work on his hip flexibility as he continues to improve on the defensive end.