A basketball career that began in Colorado at Prairie View High School and at Northeastern Junior College near the Nebraska border will continue with the famed Los Angeles Lakers.
Dalton Knecht, who recently became the biggest single-season success story in Tennessee men's basketball history, was tabbed by the Lakers with the 17th overall selection in Wednesday night's NBA draft. The 6-foot-6, 212-pounder is the highest-drafted Volunteers player since Marcus Haislip went 13th to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2002.
"It's a dream come true and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Knecht said on the ESPN telecast. "It's just a blessing. That's all I can say. I'm at a loss for words, and I'm ready to get to work."
After spending two years in junior college, Knecht played two seasons at Northern Colorado in the Big Sky Conference, averaging 20.2 points per game during the 2022-23 season. He then went to Knoxville and immediately flourished, averaging 21.7 points a game last season on his way to being selected as Southeastern Conference player of the year.
With Knecht leading the way, the Vols posted a 27-9 record that included the SEC regular-season championship and a run to the NCAA tournament's Elite Eight.
"He's the Roy Hobbs of college basketball," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said, referencing "The Natural" book and movie. "He came out of nowhere to be a first-team All-American."
Knecht had been projected by multiple outlets as a top-10 pick. Another ESPN analyst, Jonathan Givony, said on the broadcast that some NBA general managers were more interested in drafting teenagers and their potential upside compared to the more proven Knecht, who is 23 years old.
The 21.7-point clip placed Knecht with only Bernard King (25.8), Ernie Grunfeld (22.3) and Allan Houston (21.9) as far as players who averaged more than 20 points during their time with the Vols. He is the only Tennessee player to score 30 or more points in five consecutive contests.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.