While Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht has been the talk of the basketball world in the recent Player of the Year and the SEC Player of the Year conversations, the NBA world is also keeping an eye on the Vols’ rising star.
Knecht has scored 160 total points in his last five games and is averaging 31.4 points per game on the road this season.
Bleacher Report and Yard Barker both released mock drafts on Tuesday morning with their thoughts on the first round of the draft this June.
BR’s Jonathan Wasserman has a higher opinion on Knecht with the current Vol going No. 13 overall to the New Orleans Pelicans.
“History says to be careful with players who will turn 23 by the draft. But teams may have just missed on Dalton Knecht last year at Northern Colorado,” Wasserman wrote. “His 2023-24 production and percentages at Tennessee are nearly identical. Four consecutive 25-point-plus games against SEC opponents have highlighted Knecht’s pro-like shotmaking, scoring skill and frame.”
Knecht is Wasserman’s third highest-projected player from the SEC behind a pair of Kentucky guards in Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard.
More from RTI: Zakai Zeigler Named To 10-Player Bob Cousy Award Midseason List
YardBarker’s Pat Heery also has Knecht in the Top 20 but a few spots down. Heery has Knecht slotted as the No. 19 overall pick to the Toronto Raptors via a trade with the Indiana Pacers.
“Dalton Knecht is rocketing up the draft boards this season after some eye-popping performances, including a 39-point game against Florida, a 37-point game against North Carolina and a 36-point game against Georgia,” Heery wrote. “At 6-foot-6, he has the size to both get his shot off and defend at the next level, the handle to attack closeouts and the shooting efficiency to be an elite floor-spacer (49-42-81 shooting splits)”
ESPN posted an NBA draft rankings on Jan. 2 that saw Knecht land at the No. 24 player slot, which would make sense considering Knecht scored five of his six 25-plus point games after those rankings were posted. Knecht’s name has been universally rocketing up draft boards thanks to his play in SEC games this month.
Knecht and the No. 5 Vols will be back on the court in Knoxville at 6:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday evening to take on South Carolina. The game can be viewed on SEC Network.
