Adam Kunkel (basketball) explained

Adam Kunkel
Position:Shooting guard
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lb:180
League:Primera FEB
Team:Palencia Baloncesto
Birth Date:9 December 1999
Birth Place:Erlanger, Kentucky
Nationality:American
High School:Randall K. Cooper
(Union, Kentucky)
College:
Draft Year:2023
Career Start:2023
Years1:2023–2024
Team1:Astana
Years2:2024
Team2:Capitanes de Ciudad de México
Years3:2024
Team3:South Bay Lakers
Years4:2024–present
Team4:Zunder Palencia
Highlights:

Adam Terrence Kunkel (born December 9, 1999) is an American basketball player for Zunder Palencia of the Primera FEB. He played college basketball for the Belmont Bruins and the Xavier Musketeers.

High school career

Kunkel attended Randall K. Cooper High School. As a junior, he helped his team reach the Sweet 16 title game, scoring 13 points in the loss against Bowling Green High School. Kunkel averaged 16.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, shooting 41 percent from three-point range. He earned Kentucky Region IX Player of the Year, Third Team Kentucky All-State, and Lexington Catholic Tournament Most Valuable Player honors.[1] Kunkel averaged 20 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as a senior, shooting 45 percent from behind the arc. He was named First Team All-State, Kentucky Region IX Player of the Year, and was a finalist for Kentucky Mr. Basketball.[2] Kunkel committed to Belmont in November 2017, choosing the Bruins over offers from Central Arkansas, Samford and Winthrop.[1] [3]

College career

Kunkel expected to redshirt his freshman season at Belmont to put on weight, but instead became a rotation player. As a freshman, he averaged 2.3 points in 9.3 minutes per game.[4] On November 16, 2019, Kunkel scored a career-high 35 points in a 100–85 win against Boston College in the Gotham Classic.[5] As a sophomore, Kunkel averaged 16.5 points, 2.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game, shooting 39 percent from three-point from behind the arc. He earned First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors.[6] Kunkel's increase in his scoring average of 14.2 points per game was the second highest in Division I. Following the season, he entered the transfer portal. On July 25, Kunkel committed to Xavier over Arkansas, Creighton and Oklahoma.[7] He was granted a waiver for immediate eligibility on December 5.[8] Kunkel averaged 7 points and 1.6 assists per game as a junior.[9]

Professional career

Astana (2023–2024)

After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Kunkel joined Astana of the VTB United League in August 2023.[10]

Capitanes de Ciudad de México (2024)

On February 8, 2024, Kunkel joined the Capitanes de Ciudad de México of the NBA G League.[11] On March 1, 2024, he was waived by the Capitanes.[12]

South Bay Lakers (2024)

On March 13, 2024, Kunkel joined the South Bay Lakers.[13]

Zunder Palencia (2024–present)

On July 23, 2024, Kunkel signed with Zunder Palencia of the Primera FEB.[14]

Career statistics

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19| style="text-align:left;"| Belmont| 25 || 0 || 9.3 || .321 || .275 || .867 || .6 || .7 || .4 || .1 || 2.3|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Belmont| 33 || 33 || 29.8 || .433 || .390 || .821 || 2.8 || 2.6 || .9 || .2 || 16.5|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| Xavier| 16 || 4 || 18.8 || .398 || .265 || .889 || 1.3 || 1.6 || 1.0 || .2 || 7.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| style="text-align:left;"| Xavier| 34 || 4 || 23.3 || .374 || .333 || .755 || 2.2 || 1.8 || .8 || .1 || 8.8|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| style="text-align:left;"| Xavier| 35 || 32 || 30.3 || .460 || .425 || .872 || 2.7 || 3.0 || 1.1 || .1 || 10.9|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 143 || 73 || 23.5 || .418 || .364 || .820 || 2.1 || 2.1 || .9 || .1 || 9.7

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: November 10, 2017 . Welcome Adam Kunkel . October 22, 2020 . Belmont Bruins.
  2. News: Fisher . Chris . July 22, 2020 . Kentucky contacts Belmont transfer Adam Kunkel . 247 Sports . October 22, 2020.
  3. News: Moore . Josh . December 31, 2016 . Short-handed Cooper tops LexCath in finals . B6 . . October 22, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Jon. Hale. Could Belmont transfer, former Cooper HS star Adam Kunkel play for Kentucky or Louisville?. The Courier-Journal. July 23, 2020. October 22, 2020.
  5. News: Kunkel's career-high 30 points carries Belmont over BC. ESPN. Associated Press. November 16, 2019. October 22, 2020.
  6. News: Matthew. McGavic. Report: Louisville in Contact with Belmont Transfer Adam Kunkel. Sports Illustrated. July 22, 2020. October 3, 2020.
  7. News: Adam. Baum. 'Ready to be a Musketeer': Xavier lands Belmont transfer, Cooper grad Adam Kunkel. The Cincinnati Enquirer. July 25, 2020. October 3, 2020.
  8. News: Adam. Baum. Xavier's 3 quarantined players are back and Adam Kunkel's waiver has been approved. The Cincinnati Enquirer. December 5, 2020. December 5, 2020.
  9. News: Jeff. Borzello. NCAA Division I men's college basketball rosters, departures, newcomers for 2021-22. ESPN. June 17, 2021. June 20, 2021.
  10. Web site: Adam Kunkel joins Astana. VTB-League.com. February 7, 2024.
  11. CAPITANES. Comunicado oficial: Capitanes de la Ciudad de México anuncia una nueva incorporación en su roster. Adam Kunkel se une al equipo para el resto de la temporada 23-24 de la NBA G League. #SomosCapitanes. 1755655734329831762. CapitanesCDMX. February 8, 2024. February 10, 2024. Spanish.
  12. Web site: 2023-2024 Mexico City Capitanes Transaction History. RealGM.com. March 2, 2024.
  13. Web site: South Bay Lakers Sign Vance Jackson Jr. and Adam Kunkel. NBA.com. March 13, 2024. March 14, 2024.
  14. Web site: EL EXTERIOR ADAM KUNKEL, NOVENO JUGADOR DEL EQUIPO PALENTINO. PalenciaBaloncesto.com. July 23, 2024. July 24, 2024. Spanish.