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Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff Writer
Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner, three-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, announced Wednesday that he plans to return to the Bluejays for another season.
Kalkbrenner had entered his name into the NBA draft but is projected as a borderline second-round pick. He will be taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility given by the NCAA to student-athletes from the COVID-impacted 2020-21 season.
A 7-foot-1 senior, Kalkbrenner has been one of the elite defensive players in college basketball over the past three seasons. He was a first-team All-Big East performer in 2022-23 and a second-team selection this past season, winning Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors in each of the past three seasons.
Kalkbrenner averaged a career-high 17.3 points and 3.1 blocks this season, adding 7.6 rebounds. He ranked sixth nationally in field goal percentage, shooting 64.6% from the field. His 107 blocked shots ranked second in the country.
He has made major strides on the offensive end, posting 20 or more points 11 times – including 28 points, nine rebounds and 7 blocks in a January win over Seton Hall and 28 points in a February victory against Xavier. Kalkbrenner was terrific in the NCAA tournament, averaging 18.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in three games.
He’s ranked No. 52 in ESPN’s top 100 NBA draft prospects.