Across 30 outings for a 2024-25 Duke squad that tallied 35 wins and reached the Final Four, the projected 2025-26 starting center averaged 3.9 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10.5 minutes per game. He shot 71.9 percent from the field and 72.7 percent at the foul line.

The younger brother of Duke standout and projected first-round pick Kon Knueppel, Kinston is beginning to generate major buzz in his own right. The 6-foot-5 wing from Wisconsin Lutheran made On3 Sports’ initial “ Prospects to Watch ” list for the Class of 2028, a promising indicator of what could come.

Duke is getting a key piece back in its rotation next year after losing star forward Cooper Flagg to the NBA Draft,