CBS 58's Hometown Athlete: Wisconsin Lutheran's Kon Knueppel prepares to become an NBA lottery pick

MEQUON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Sometimes Kon Knueppel, can't even fathom it.

"I didn't think it would happen this quickly," Kon Knueppel says. "Something I definitely thought that if I worked hard enough? It could happen. It's been a really, really quick experience. And I've super enjoyed just working every day here now. Preparing for the draft."

Here at Athlete Performance in Mequon, with Marquette legend and former NBA player Travis Diener.

So, what's it like out there. I was kind of joking around with you before that you make 8 in a row. I'd be ecstatic. And you literally asked Travis like how many did I miss? He goes four. You were just kind of like oh come on. Like, is that how competitive you are?

"Yeah. I mean you don't wanna miss any shots," Knueppel says. "I think, I mean I've been out here with him where I miss everything. I've had horrible days. And I've been out here where I, one day I was 48 for 50."

And that includes 3's off the dribble.

"It's something that I gotta get more comfortable with," Knueppel says. "I didn't shoot a bunch of them last year. I didn't shoot a lot of them in high school. So just something I'm getting more comfortable with because it could be a weapon at the next level for sure."

An expected lottery picks out of Duke and Wisconsin Lutheran High School? Knueppel should go between spots 5 and 11.

Do you even pay attention to when people say ok, he's going to go 5 through 11. Or he's going to go in a certain spot or whatever. How do you process, your name being out there for that stuff?

"Yeah, I mean I don't really pay attention to those mock drafts and things," Knueppel says. "Like, they don't really know. You know. They don't really know what's going on. So, I get help with my circle and the people I trust and the people that actually know what's going down."

What is a team getting in Kon Knueppel? What are your positives do you feel?

"At first somebody who just loves basketball and wants to get better," Knueppel says. "I think you want guys in the building who really love the game. Wanna compete. Love the process of getting better. And wanna win I think."

To say Kon grew up in a basketball family is an understatement. His Dad was Wisconsin Lutheran College's all-time leading scorer. His Mom Chari? UW-Green Bay's all-time leading women's scorer. Uncle Jeff Nordgaard played for UW-Green Bay and the Milwaukee Bucks. And oh yeah, he has four younger brothers who all play hoops.

"I grew up competitive house," Knueppel says. "You're playing pickup games not just with your brothers but with your parents is pretty sweet. But I think basketball is not just a sport and a game. It's something you learn life lessons from. Well, Kager's giving me crap because he says he's got as many state championships as he does losses. So, he says he has twice as many state championships as me so that's pretty funny. But I don't really have a good comeback for that. Other than maybe talk to me when you make a Final Four or something like that."

CBS58 Sports Director Lance Allan says it's the competitive Knueppels I guess?

"Yeah," Knueppel says. "Other than that? I think they kind of know where they stand so."

The cameras seem to enjoy your parents and find them along the way so to speak.

"Yeah, I think my mom enjoyed that more than my dad," Knueppel says.

He's honored to be another Wisconsin product, going to the NBA.

"I don't think we do get enough credit," Knueppel says. "We have a bunch of good players. Especially in recent years. We've had a lot more players coming out of this state and I think, Wisconsin's a basketball state."

Kon's Christian faith keeps him grounded.

CBS58 Sports Director Lance Allan asks how do you represent your family? How do you represent your faith? How do you represent, you know, the state and the people that mean something to you?

"I just try to do everything with humility," Knueppel says. "You know I think that's what Jesus did and I think that a, I value that a lot in my life. And try to avoid attention sometimes. I think I do that to a fault maybe sometimes, where I'm just like man I don't wanna talk to anybody. I'll be excited to go wherever. You know there'll just be a lot of thankfulness. A lot of gratitude for a bunch of people that have helped me along the way. But also just how blessed I am to be able to have this opportunity that God has given.

But what drives him, is Duke's loss in the Final Four.

"Obviously it didn't go how we wanted it to," Knueppel says. "To be completely honest? It's probably something I'll never forget the feeling of.

Does it motivate him?

"Yeah, it does," Knueppel says. "I think just like anything in life, when something doesn't go your way that you put a lot of time into? It's frustrating. It's disappointing. But how are you going to use that to be better."

For now? He'll live and train here.

Can he keep it normal, with all this going around?

"Yeah," Knueppel says. "It's the same as any other time. It actually feels like high school, coming back out here. I'm living at home!"

And in less than a month? He'll hear his name called in another magical moment of his hoops career.

"It's beyond a dream," Knueppel says. "Yeah, it's beyond a dream. So, and now I'm playing with house money."

Someday winning an NBA championship or someday doing whatever. What's kind of on his list so to speak?

"Yeah, I definitely would want to compete in the playoffs at the highest level," Knueppel says. "You know, right now it's the best basketball ever to watch. It's so fun."