Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner had to wait until day two of the 2025 NBA Draft to hear his name called, but he didn’t have to wait much longer than that as the Charlotte Hornets selected him with the 34th pick Thursday night.
Kalkbrenner gives Creighton men’s basketball draft picks in back-to-back drafts as he is set to join Baylor Scheierman, who the Boston Celtics drafted at the end of last year’s first round, in the NBA next season.
With the 34th pick of the NBA Draft, the @hornets select Ryan Kalkbrenner (@RyanKalkbrenner)!
Second Round of the 2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm is LIVE on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/sEhWNtGOnB
— NBA (@NBA) June 27, 2025
Kalkbrenner spent five seasons in Omaha, totaling 2,443 points, 1,146 rebounds and 399 blocks while shooting 65.8% from the field in his prolific Bluejay career. The four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, three-time All-Big East performer, 2024-25 All-American and 2024-25 NABC Defensive Player of the Year will trade in his Bluejay blue for Hornets colors next season.
The Hornets agreed to trade starting center Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, leaving Jusuf Nurkic as the only true five on the roster and creating a big need in the frontcourt in Charlotte. The Hornets also selected Duke guard Kon Knueppel with the fourth pick, UConn wing Liam McNeeley with the 29th pick and Duke guard Sion James at 33.
Kalkbrenner backed up Christian Bishop as a freshman in 2020-21 then entered the starting lineup as a sophomore, averaging 13.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks on his way to the first of his four Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards — a tally only Patrick Ewing had ever reached before him.
Kalkbrenner averaged 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks as a junior and declared for the NBA Draft after the season, participating in the NBA Combine before choosing to return to Creighton. He upped his production to 17.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game during his senior year and again declared for the draft, though he withdrew prior to the Combine to spend his offseason training for his fifth and final season at Creighton.
Kalkbrenner’s decision to return paid off in a big way as he blossomed into an All-American, averaging 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. Kalkbrenner extended his range, hitting 34.4% of his 1.7 3-point attempts per game as a super senior. He was projected to go late in the second round or undrafted prior to this season but capitalized on the extra year the NCAA awarded him because of the COVID-19 pandemic to boost his stock.
With his 7-foot-1 (without shoes) frame, 7-foot-6 wingspan, shot-blocking fundamentals and feel for the game, Kalkbrenner is arguably the best rim protector in the draft. He excels in drop ball screen coverage and is an elite finisher around the basket.
Kalkbrenner was born in Florissant, Missouri, just outside of St. Louis, and developed into a four-star recruit at Trinity Catholic High School and playing for MAC Irvin Fire on the EYBL. He chose Creighton over Purdue, Kansas and others.
Kalkbrenner could be the fourth Bluejay in the NBA next season, joining Scheierman, Trey Alexander (two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets) and Doug McDermott (free agent after spending his 11th season with the Sacramento Kings)
