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As Wisconsin Lutheran boys basketball goes for a third straight state championship on Saturday, March 21, observers will notice a familiar last name throughout the roster.
Knueppel.
Two years ago, oldest brother Kon Knueppel, who is lighting up the NBA as one of the top rookies, led the Vikings to a perfect season and state title in 2024.
His younger brothers are the next wave of talent propelling Wisconsin Lutheran to the top of the state. There are three on the current roster and a fourth is on his way next year.
And that's not all. The Knueppels' first cousin, Zavier Zens, just happens to be the best player in Wisconsin in 2025-26, and is a Division I college recruit.
Here's what to know about the Knueppel family:
The Knueppel family has five boys
Zavier Zens is the first cousin of the Knueppel brothers.
He is racking up one major award after another during his senior season. The 6-foot-7 forward was named Mr. Basketball by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and Wisconsin Player of the Year by Gatorade.
Kon Knueppel also won those awards in 2024.
Zens, who is heading to Northern Iowa next season, averaged 23.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 4.5 apg during the season.
He scored 16 points in Wisconsin Lutheran's Division 2 state final win over Pewaukee in 2024 and a team-high 19 points in last year's Division 1 final win over Marshfield.
It's no surprise that the Knueppel brothers picked up a basketball and thrived in the sport.
Basketball runs in the Knueppel's blood.
Their parents were college basketball stars in the 1990s.
Kon Knueppel Sr. was the all-time leading scorer at Wisconsin Lutheran College and a four-time all-conference selection. Chari Norgaard Knueppel is a legend at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
She is just one of three players in program history with her jersey retired and remains the program's all-time leading scorer.
REQUIRED READING: UWGB great Chari Nordgaard-Knueppel has attended every Duke game this season to watch son Kon
Kon Knueppel is in the midst of an incredible rookie season and has the Hornets in position to be part of the playoff play-in field.
Among the records he already set are fastest player in league history to make his first 200 3-pointers and most 3-pointers by a rookie in a season.
In 69 games, Knueppel is averaging 19.3 points on 48.9% shooting, 87.7% on free throws, 43.7% on three-pointers, plus 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 31.7 minutes.
He talked about his brothers and family at the NBA draft last summer:
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Knueppel family tree explainned: Kon and brothers, cousin Zavier Zens
Continue reading...
Knueppel.
Two years ago, oldest brother Kon Knueppel, who is lighting up the NBA as one of the top rookies, led the Vikings to a perfect season and state title in 2024.
His younger brothers are the next wave of talent propelling Wisconsin Lutheran to the top of the state. There are three on the current roster and a fourth is on his way next year.
And that's not all. The Knueppels' first cousin, Zavier Zens, just happens to be the best player in Wisconsin in 2025-26, and is a Division I college recruit.
Here's what to know about the Knueppel family:
Who are the Knueppel brothers?
The Knueppel family has five boys
- Kon Knueppel - played at Wisconsin Lutheran from 2020-2024, spent one season at Duke and was selected by the Charlotte Hornets as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
- Kager Knueppel – Wisconsin Lutheran junior, 6-foot-10 wing
- Kinston Knueppel – Wisconsin Lutheran sophomore – 6 foot-6 wing
- Kash Knueppel – Wisconsin Lutheran freshman – 6-foot-3 guard
- Kidman Knueppel - Eighth grader - plays for Davis Brothers Elite
Who is Zavier Zens?
Zavier Zens is the first cousin of the Knueppel brothers.
He is racking up one major award after another during his senior season. The 6-foot-7 forward was named Mr. Basketball by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and Wisconsin Player of the Year by Gatorade.
Kon Knueppel also won those awards in 2024.
Zens, who is heading to Northern Iowa next season, averaged 23.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 4.5 apg during the season.
He scored 16 points in Wisconsin Lutheran's Division 2 state final win over Pewaukee in 2024 and a team-high 19 points in last year's Division 1 final win over Marshfield.
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Who are the Knueppel parents? Knueppel mom and dad
It's no surprise that the Knueppel brothers picked up a basketball and thrived in the sport.
Basketball runs in the Knueppel's blood.
Their parents were college basketball stars in the 1990s.
Kon Knueppel Sr. was the all-time leading scorer at Wisconsin Lutheran College and a four-time all-conference selection. Chari Norgaard Knueppel is a legend at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
She is just one of three players in program history with her jersey retired and remains the program's all-time leading scorer.
REQUIRED READING: UWGB great Chari Nordgaard-Knueppel has attended every Duke game this season to watch son Kon
Kon Knueppel in the NBA
Kon Knueppel is in the midst of an incredible rookie season and has the Hornets in position to be part of the playoff play-in field.
Among the records he already set are fastest player in league history to make his first 200 3-pointers and most 3-pointers by a rookie in a season.
In 69 games, Knueppel is averaging 19.3 points on 48.9% shooting, 87.7% on free throws, 43.7% on three-pointers, plus 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 31.7 minutes.
He talked about his brothers and family at the NBA draft last summer:
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Knueppel family tree explainned: Kon and brothers, cousin Zavier Zens
Continue reading...
