​Duke basketball’s first 2027 commit has a familiar last name. Kager Knueppel, the four-star forward and brother of Charlotte Hornets standout Kon Knueppel, has chosen Duke, marking Jon Scheyer’s first pledge in the Blue Devils’ 2027 class. Knueppel is rated as the No. 28 player in the 2027 cycle by 247Sports. He averaged 16.5 points per game in EYBL play last season and shot 50.7% from three-point range. Remarkably, he reported only five offers, with Duke edging out Purdue, Wisconsin, Toledo, and Arkansas. This signing comes on the heels of Duke’s strong 2026 class, which ranked No. 2 nationally. Kon Knueppel, a five-star in Duke’s 2024 group, went fourth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft and averaged 18.5 points per game last season, also setting the NBA rookie single-season three-pointer record. It remains to be seen whether Kager can reach similar heights in Durham, and Duke could be joined next year by another sibling of an NBA player, as Beckham Black—the No. 2 overall prospect and brother of Anthony Black of the Orlando Magic—has been a target for the Blue Devils.