Kon Knueppel, former Wisconsin Lutheran HS standout, drafted 4th overall by NBA's Charlotte Hornets

BROOKLYN, NY (CBS 58) -- Kon Knueppel, a Wisconsin Lutheran product, and one of the best basketball players to come from Wisconsin, was drafted fourth overall by the Charlotte Hornets Wednesday night, June 25.

Knueppel, his parents, and four brothers were at the Barclays Center in New York.

After leading Wisconsin Lutheran to a Division 2 state championship during his senior year in 2024, Knueppel went on to star at Duke as a freshman.

Wisconsin Lutheran held a draft watch party in the school's auditorium.

The crowd of friends and fans erupted when Knueppel's name was announced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

Head coach Ryan Walz told us, "To go to Charlotte, I think it's a great fit for him. And he's excited, I know that. Because he told me that he had prepared himself mentally to wherever he was going to go, he was going to go and just be the best basketball player he can be, fit in and help that team try and win."

And high school teammate Josiah Rice said, "He was a great leader. Everything he did, he led by example. He was also just a very good, down-to-earth guy, like you could talk to him. He wasn't arrogant, he wasn't selfish, anything like that. He was just a great guy."