Former SEC Player of the Year Dalton Knecht dazzled scouts at the NBA Combine on Monday afternoon with pinpoint shooting from the perimeter and strong strength and conditioning measurements.
Knecht and other draft hopefuls will go through several tests and on-court exercises at the combine from May 12-19, with several scouts and executives in attendance.
Knecht, measured at 6-foot-5.25 and 212.2 pounds, was recorded with a 6-foot-9 wingspan and an 8-foot-7.5 standing reach. The former Tennessee wing also tallied the third-highest vertical jump among players at 39.0 inches.
39-inch vertical leap for Dalton Knecht. Third-highest figure at the NBA Draft Combine thus far. pic.twitter.com/2kpWUuGNXq
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 13, 2024
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Dalton Knecht with a fast time in the Pro Lane agility test at the NBA draft combine pic.twitter.com/iNtYzbvnFA
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 13, 2024
When he took the court to shoot the ball, Knecht hardly missed. The former First Team All-American shot the lights out from both the perimeter and the mid-range, two of his strongest areas on the court during his lone season with the Tennessee Volunteers.
Dalton Knecht automatic in the 3-point shooting drill at the NBA draft combine. pic.twitter.com/3gigXRVF4t
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 13, 2024
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Dalton Knecht one-dribble jumpers pic.twitter.com/EAZMQG4K69
— Will Gottlieb (@Will_Gottlieb) May 13, 2024
With the lottery in the rear-view mirror and the top 14 picks of the draft confirmed, many have started their official mock drafts on the road to the NBA Draft this June. Based on the mock drafts on the first day after the lottery, it looks as though Knecht is all but locked in for a Top 11 pick.
The most common projection was for Knecht to land at No. 8 overall to the San Antonio Spurs, who also claim the fourth overall pick. Projections also had Knecht landing at tenth overall to the Jazz and 11th to the Bulls, but nothing behind that. The Trail Blazers at No. 7 and the Grizzlies at No. 9 are also interesting potential suitors for the former Vol.
We’ll see more from Knecht as the NBA Combine continues over the next week, but it was certainly a productive day for the future lottery pick.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more on Dalton Knecht’s path to the NBA Draft at the combine this week. For more on Knecht’s mock draft landing spots, click here.
