Ryan Kalkbrenner’s life-changing gamble paid off.
A year ago, he bet on himself by forgoing the predraft process for a fifth and final season at Creighton. The 7-foot-1 center firmly believed another summer honing his game, and one last run as one of college basketball’s premier defenders, would catapult him to the next level.
And now it has.
Kalkbrenner was selected by the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday with the No. 34 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft.
Charlotte is getting one of the most decorated defenders in NCAA history with Kalkbrenner, who should have ample opportunity early. The Hornets traded rising center Mark Williams to Phoenix during Wednesday's first round.
Kalkbrenner is a four-time Big East defensive player of the year, something only Patrick Ewing had done until this spring. Before the curtain closed, Kalkbrenner won the NABC and Naismith DPOYs and was recognized as the country’s top center with the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award.
People are also reading…
He becomes the 33rd Bluejay drafted — the ninth since the NBA moved to two rounds in 1989, and the sixth of the Greg McDermott era.
An elite rim protector, Kalkbrenner joins an all-time list of CU greats drafted, including Doug McDermott (2014), Kyle Korver (2003), Benoit Benjamin (1985) and Paul Silas (1964).
Kalkbrenner’s farewell tour produced career highs in points (19.2), rebounds (8.7) and 3-point percentage (34.4%), the 23-year-old anchoring a team that won an NCAA tournament game for the fifth consecutive season.
His 2.7 blocks per game, short of his career-high 3.1 in 2023-24, were fourth nationally. He finished his Creighton career shooting 65.8% from the field, sixth all-time (minimum 400 attempts).
But it was never about the buckets, the blocks, the trophies, the records for Kalkbrenner, praised for his unwavering loyalty and authentic selflessness.
He wanted — wants — to win.
Over the past five years, Kalkbrenner did whatever was necessary to make that happen and, knowingly or not, gradually raised his draft stock season after season.
NBA feedback wasn’t what he wanted after his junior season, and he pulled out of the process early last summer. A lot's changed since then.
Someday, Kalkbrenner will be immortalized at Creighton, his No. 11 jersey, along with everything it represents, destined for the rafters in Omaha.
In the meantime, he's headed to Charlotte.
Photos: Our favorite photos from the 2024-25 Creighton men's basketball season
CUmen-01.JPG
Creighton's Pop Isaacs (2) goes up for a 3-pointer s head coach Greg McDermott motions in the background during the second half of a men's college basketball game against Kansas at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-02.JPG
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) shoots a layup during the second half of a men's college basketball game against Villanova at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-03.JPG
Creighton players cheer from the bench during the first half of a men's college basketball game against Xavier at the CHI Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-04.JPG
Creighton's Ty Davis (9), left, and Jasen Green (0) celebrate after their victory over Xavier in a men's college basketball game at the CHI Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-05.JPG
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) walks away after addressing fans during senior day festivities after a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-06.JPG
Creighton's Mason Miller (13) poses for a portrait during Creighton men's basketball media day in Omaha on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-07.JPG
Creighton's Jamiya Neal (5) goes up for a layup against Houston Christian's Porter Bazil (7) during the second half of a men's college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-08.JPG
Creighton's Fredrick King (33) goes up for a shot against Houston Christian's Porter Bazil (7) during the second half of a men's college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-09.JPG
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) and Sterling Knox (4) celebrate with head coach Greg McDermott after his 328 win at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-10.JPG
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) goes up for a 3-pointer against Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-11.JPG
Creighton mascot Billy Bluejay dunks the ball during the first half of a men's college basketball game against Kansas at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-12.JPG
Creighton players celebrate after their fans rushed the court after defeating Kansas, 76-63, at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-13.JPG
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) goes up for a shot above Seton Hall's Emmanuel Okorafor (23) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-14.JPG
Seton Hall's Garwey Dual (33) dunks the ball against Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-15.JPG
Creighton's Isaac Traudt (41) is celebrated after a call agaisnt Seton Hall's Jahseem Felton (15) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-16.JPG
Creighton's Isaac Traudt (41) dunks the ball during the first half of a men's college basketball game against Xavier at the CHI Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-17.JPG
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) reacts after a basket against Xavier during the second half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-18.JPG
Billy Bluejay waves a flag during player introductions before the first half of a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-19.JPG
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) dribbles the ball against Marquette during the first half of a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-20.JPG
Creighton's Mason Miller (13) looks to pass the ball away from Marquette's Kam Jones (1) during the first half of a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-21.JPG
Creighton's Jamiya Neal (5) dunks the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Connecticut at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-22.JPG
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) goes up to dunk the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Georgetown at the CHI Center in Omaha on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-23.JPG
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) celebrates going into a timeout after dunking the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Georgetown at the CHI Center in Omaha on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-24.JPG
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) dunks the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against DePaul at CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-25.JPG
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) walks out during pre-game introductions before the first half af a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
CUmen-26.JPG
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) carries his son Tommy Jay as he walks out during senior day festivities after a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
0 Comments
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!