Dalton Knecht drafted No. 17 by LA Lakers in 2024 NBA Draft out of Tennessee basketball

Dalton Knecht came to Tennessee basketball and changed his future.

The Vols guard parlayed a historic season into being the No. 17 by Los Angeles Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday. He is the highest-drafted player under Vols coach Rick Barnes.

Knecht is the earliest pick from Tennessee since Marcus Haislip was a lottery pick at No. 13 in the 2022 MLB Draft. The 6-foot-6 Knecht was projected to be selected in the lottery, but the 23-year-old slipped to No. 17.

Dalton Knecht picked No. 17 by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft

Knecht won the SEC player of the year and was a consensus first-team All-American in his lone season at Tennessee. He averaged 21.7 points after transferring from Northern Colorado.

The Thornton, Colorado, native finished with 780 points, the second-most in a season by a Vol ever. The former junior-college star trails only Allan Houston, who had 806 points in the 1990-91 season.

Knecht had 13 25-point games, eight 30-point games, six 35-point games, and a 40-point game. A Tennessee player had scored 35 or more 50 times in history before Knecht. Knecht is tied for in UT history with eight 30-point games despite playing only one season. He often did his best work on the road, averaging 24.8 points in road games. He averaged 25.5 points in SEC play.

He played two seasons at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado out of Prairie View High School.

Where Dalton Knecht stands in Tennessee basketball NBA Draft history

Knecht is the fourth first-round pick under Barnes. Grant Williams was the first when he was picked No. 22 by the Boston Celtics in 2019. Keon Johnson was picked No. 21 and Jaden Springer was picked No. 28 in 2021.

Knecht passed Johnson as the highest-drafted player coached by Barnes at Tennessee.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.