Duke's Kon Knueppel earned first scholarship offer from surprising mid-major program

Kon Knueppel could be playing in the Mid-American Conference.

If that seems far fetched for the Duke freshman, the one who outscored classmate Cooper Flagg in the Elite Eight, it wasn't always such a crazy thought.

Knueppel's very first college basketball scholarship offer came from the MAC.

The University of Toledo offered Knueppel, who is from Wisconsin, when he was a sophomore in high school, according to the Toledo Blade's fantastic columnist, David Briggs.

Knueppel is the nephew of Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk, who will be in attendance to watch him play at the Final Four this weekend.

Kowalczyk's wife, Julie, is the sister of Knueppel's mom, Chari.

"We thought at that time he was a really good player," Tod Kowalczyk told the Blade, "and we wanted to be the first school in there."

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Knueppel gained huge helium heading into his junior season and eventually was ranked as the No. 9 prospect in the Class of 2024.

As a senior at Wisconsin Lutheran, Knueppel led a perfect season that ended in a state championship.

Knueppel inspired his cousin, D-I prospect Race Kowalczyk, to embrace a better work ethic and train up to three times a day, per Briggs.

Adding to the intrigue, Toledo aimed to add Duke to its schedule for next season so Knueppel could face his uncle on the sideline.

Only problem? The former Rockets offeree seems destined to be one-and-done to the NBA.

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