#NDProud: Fargo Born Dalton Knecht Drafted No. 17 by LA Lakers
Dalton Knecht AP Photo Julie Nikhinson
PHOENIX (AP/KVRR) — The NBA’s Pacific Division wasn’t the destination for 18-year-old phenoms during the draft’s first round on Wednesday night.
The Lakers went for scoring with the No. 17 pick, adding Tennessee’s 23-year-old Dalton Knecht. The 6-foot-5 guard was one of the college game’s elite scorers last season, averaging nearly 22 points per game.
The SEC Player of the Year is a prolific scorer who grew into stardom during a winding journey that began with no Division I scholarship offers and ended with three increasingly impressive seasons with Northern Colorado and then Tennessee.
Knecht was a near-consensus projected lottery pick whose outside shooting and overall style inspired parallels to everyone from Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. to Jerami Grant and Terrence Ross.
Born in Fargo, North Dakota, Knecht’s mom is from West Fargo and Dad is from Enderlin. Dalton’s father, Corey Knecht played basketball at Mayville State University.
Dalton reportedly has returned to Enderlin High School to shoot hoops during holiday breaks. Enderlin held a draft party for Dalton for the 2024 NBA Draft’s first round.
