Dusty May gets a reassuring message from 2027 4-star with obvious Duke connections

The Knueppel family has become a basketball dynasty in Wisconsin, and Kon was just the start of this generation's talent. While the former Duke star was battling for NBA Rookie of the Year this season, his younger brother Kager’s college recruitment was just kicking into high gear. 

Though Duke may be the favorite to land the 2027 four-star forward, Kager’s recent comments to On3’s Joe Tipton prove that Dusty May still has a chance to disrupt Jon Scheyer’s plans for a Knueppel pipeline to funnel Kager and his three younger brothers to Durham. 

“It’s not just 100% Duke. It’s my own path, so I’ll see other schools and have interest in them.”

Kager Knueppel leaves the door open for Michigan and Purdue

There’s always the possibility that Kager is simply playing Michigan and Purdue for leverage to get a better deal out of Scheyer. However, the 6-foot-9, 205-pound playmaking forward seems to be seriously pursuing other possibilities, and he’d be a great fit for May’s system in Ann Arbor. The big question is what percentage it is for Duke, because “not 100 percent” could still mean 99. 

Still, these comments are good news for May and his staff. Kager won’t be their top priority in the 2027 class, but he’s an ideal fit for what May is building in Ann Arbor. 

While he’s not as highly ranked as Kon was as a prospect, it’s obvious to see why both Scheyer and May are interested. Both programs have gone all-in on building oversized front courts to dominate the boards and the rim, and that requires bigs who can space the floor and create offense for themselves and others. That’s exactly the type of wing/forward Kager projects to be. 

Unsurprisingly, like his older brother, Kager consistently makes the right play with the ball. He’s an intelligent passer, relocates well, and can knock down shots off the catch and the dribble. He’s not an elite athlete, so he’ll need to carve out driving lanes with his strength and positioning. Still, even if that aspect of his game takes time to develop, he can be counted on to be in the right place, make the right pass, and hit open shots. That’s always a valuable skillset. 

Kager is the 79th-ranked player in the 2027 class according to 247Sports Composite. Yet, his recruitment will obviously garner greater attention than that ranking would indicate because of the bloodlines. Not just Kon’s success at Duke and in the NBA, but the younger Knueppel’s, who could still emerge as viable Power 4 prospects. 

His younger brothers, Kinston, a 2028 prospect, and Kash, a 2029 recruit, are both currently unranked. The youngest Knueppel, Kidman, is a 2030 recruit. There’s no guarantee that any of them will become high-level recruits, but if they do, landing Kager would increase the chances of getting the next one and break up a potential Duke monopoly.

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