2021-22 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
Kalkbrenner, Ryan
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
Jersey Number 11
Ryan Kalkbrenner
- Position:
- Center
- Height:
- 7-1
- Weight:
- 256
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Florissant, Mo.
- High School:
- Trinity Catholic
Bio
Ryan Kalkbrenner Draft Night Bio/Clippings (PDF)
2024-25: Senior at Creighton
• Unanimous First Team All-BIG EAST choice in 2024-25 and second player in CU history to be a two-time First Team All-BIG EAST pick.
• Earned fourth BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Award, something only Patrick Ewing has ever done in league history.
• NABC National Defensive Player of the Year and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year recipient after being a three-time finalist for each recognition.
• Also named Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year.
• Named Second Team All-American by the USBWA, NABC, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports and College Hoops Today as well as Third Team All-American by Associated Press, Sporting News and Field of 68 in 2024-25.
• Top 50 NCAA ranks: 2nd in field goals made, 3rd in total blocks, 4th in field goal percentage, 4th in blocks per game, 22nd in total points, 28th in total rebounds, 29th in defensive rebounds per game, 37th in points per game, 39th in double-doubles and 41st in rebounds per game.
• BIG EAST ranks (all games): 1st in rebounds per game, 1st in field goal percentage, 1st in blocks per game, 1st in double-doubles, 1st in defensive rebounds per game, 2nd in points, 3rd in points per game, 4th in offensive rebounds per game, 5th in free throw attempts, 7th in minutes per game, 8th in field goal attempts and 8th in free throws made.
• BIG EAST ranks (league games only): 1st in rebounds per game, 1st in blocks per game, 1st in field goal percentage, 1st in defensive rebounds per game, 2nd in points per game, 3rd in offensive rebounds per game, 12th in minutes per game and 13th in free throw percentage.
• Played in more wins (118), BIG EAST Tournament wins (7) and NCAA Tournament wins (9) than any player in Creighton history.
• Owns BIG EAST career records for blocked shots (248), field goal percentage (.642), games (98), minutes (2,930) and field goals (557) in league play.
• Ranks second in Creighton career history in points, rebounds, blocks, field goals made and field goal percentage.
• First CU player to be named a three-time All-BIG EAST Tournament Team pick.
• Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year in 2024-25.
• BIG EAST Player of the Week and National Player of the Week on Nov. 11 & Jan. 12.
• Preseason First Team All-American by CBS Sports, FOX Sports and Field of 68.
• Named to Preseason National Player of the Year Watch Lists for the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy and NABC Player of the Year.
• First Team All-BIG EAST in 2022-23 and 2024-25; Second Team choice in 2023-24.
• Scored career-high 49 points on 20-of-22 shooting and added 11 rebounds in win vs. UTRGV (Nov. 6). The 49 points were second-most in CU history, a CU record at CHI Health Center Omaha, and the most by any player in a season-opener since 2009. The 20 FG were a CU record and made him the nation’s first player since Bill Walton (in 1973) with 20 FG on 90%+ shooting.
• Owned Creighton’s first double-double ever against a No. 1 team with 17 points and 10 rebounds in win vs. No. 1 Kansas (Dec. 4).
• Surpassed 2,000 career points on Jan. 3 at No. 8 Marquette and 1,000 career rebounds vs. Seton Hall on Jan. 25.
• Had 26 points, nine rebounds and season-high six blocks at Butler (Jan. 11).
• Collected 35 points and 12 rebounds in win at Providence (Feb. 5).
• Had 25 points and 13 rebounds vs. DePaul (Feb. 26).
• Finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds at Xavier (March 1), becoming third Creighton player under Greg McDermott with back-to-back 20 & 10 games.
• Had 27 points and tied career-high with 15 rebounds in Senior Day win vs. Butler (March 8).
• Nation’s only player to average at least 20 points and two blocks in conference play in 2024-25.
• Ranks second in NCAA history in field goal percentage (.659) among players in Division I history to score 2,000 career points.
• One of four men in BIG EAST history with at least 185 career points and 20 career blocks in NCAA Tournament play (Ewing, Pinckney, Seikaly).
• Became first player since Kevin Durant to have a conference tournament game with at least 32 points, nine rebounds and five blocks against DePaul (March 13).
• Led the nation’s 7-footers in points per game (19.2), just ahead of Kansas big man Hunter Dickinson (17.4) and MIchigan’s Vladislav Goldin (16.6).
• Played in second-most games played (169) without fouling out in NCAA history, trailing only North Carolina guard RJ Davis (175)
• Had only four games with four fouls, giving him 13 such career games.
• In career, was fouled 593 times and owned 399 career blocks, 331 dunks and 274 personal fouls.
• Finished career with 331 career dunks (including a nation-leading 95 in 2024-25), while no other Bluejay in the past 15 years has more than 121 in their career.
2023-24: Senior at Creighton
• Third player ever to be named a three-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023, 2024), joining Patrick Ewing (4x) and Alonzo Mourning (3x).
• A two-time finalist for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024.
• Second Team All-BIG EAST selection.
• Named an Honorable Mention All-American by Associated Press and 247Sports.
• Finished second nationally in blocks per game and seventh in the country in field goal percentage.
• Top 10 in the BIG EAST in scoring, overall rebounding, offensive rebounding, defensive rebounding, field goal percentage, blocked shots, double-doubles & minutes per game.
• Extended streak of never fouling out in his career (134 games) and never had four fouls in any game in 2023-24.
• Was a Preseason All-American by 247Sports (First Team), CBS Sports (Second Team), College Hoops Today (Second Team), Fox Sports (Second Team) and Sporting News (Third Team).
• Was one of five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award for the second straight year.
• First Creighton player with 100 blocks in a season since Benoit Benjamin in 1985.
• Listed No. 5 on CBS Sports Preseason Top 100 And 1 player list.
• Scored 11 points in team’s 16-0 run to open second half vs. North Dakota State (Nov. 11).
• Swatted 200th career shot in opener vs. Florida A&M (Nov. 7).
• Scored 29 points vs. Loyola Chicago on Nov. 22, making 4-of-8 trifectas.
• Had 16 points and 12 rebounds in win at Oklahoma State (Nov. 30).
• Had 13 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in win at Nebraska (Dec. 3).
• Made 7-of-7 shots and had 15 points in 17 minutes vs. Central Michigan (Dec. 9).
• Had 22 points, eight rebounds and five blocks at UNLV (Dec. 13).
• Helped top No. 23 Providence with 22 points and 12 rebounds (Jan. 6).
• Dominated in triple-overtime win at Seton Hall (Jan. 20), finishing with 28 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks in career-high 54 minutes. Also surpassed 200 career dunks and 250 career blocks in that game.
• Grabbed eight or more rebounds in nine straight games (Jan. 6-Feb. 2), matching CU’s longest streak in 20 years.
• Had 22 points and 10 rebounds in win vs. DePaul (Jan. 27).
• Kalkbrenner dished a career-high seven assists at Providence (Feb. 7), leading CU for first time in that category.
• Scored 28 points on 12-of-14 shooting in win at Xavier (Feb. 10), adding seven rebounds and four blocked shots.
• Recorded 15 points, five rebounds and four blocks in win vs. No. 1 Connecticut (Feb. 20).
• Owned 12 points, 10 rebounds and career-high eight blocks at St. John’s (Feb. 25).
• Made 10-of-10 shots and moved into Top 10 on Creighton’s career scoring list in win vs. Seton Hall (Feb. 28), finishing with 23 points.
• Fourth player in BIG EAST Tournament history with 19+ points, 12+ rebounds and five blocks in a game when he did it vs. Providence (March 14).
• Led CU with 23 points and added eight rebounds and three blocks in NCAA Tournament opener vs. Akron (March 21).
• Had 19 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks and two steals in NCAA Tournament win vs. Oregon (March 23).
• His 75 dunks in 2023-24 were the most by any Creighton player in one season under Greg McDermott.
• Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team, the only Creighton player to ever earn that honor twice.
• Ranks fifth in NCAA history in career field goal percentage among those to make a minimum of 500 field goals.
• Owns the CHI Health Center Omaha career records for field goal percentage (.721), offensive rebounds (157) and blocked shots (133).
• Has played in more NCAA Tourney games (11) and wins (8) than any player in program history and one of two men (along with Kyle Korver) to play in four NCAA Tournaments.
Summer 2023: Bahamas Tour
• Averaged 11.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in 18.0 minutes per game.
• Had 10 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks vs. BC Kaunas Zalgiris.
2022-23: Junior at Creighton
• Led Creighton with 15.9 points per game and 2.1 blocks per game while starting all 34 appearances.
• Named First Team All-District by the USBWA and NABC and also was recognized as Field of 68’s National Defensive Player of the Year.
• The First Team All-BIG EAST performer was one of five finalists for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (National Center of the Year), one of four finalists for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, and also was one of 25 finalists for Lefty Driesell Award as Defensive Player of the Year.
• Ranked third nationally in field goal percentage with the 23rd-best single-season mark in NCAA history.
• Led BIG EAST and ranked 18th in the country with 2.12 blocks per game.
• Blocked a shot in 25 straight games from Nov. 14 to March 1 and scored 10 or more points in each of the final 21 contests.
• Surpassed 1,000 career points on Feb. 25 at Villanova in his 91st career game.
• Set the single-season CHI Health Center Omaha record for field goal percentage (.742).
• Preseason First Team All-BIG EAST selection and one of 50 candidates on the Preseason Watch Lists for the Wooden Award and the Naismith Trophy.
• Shot 66.1 percent from the field (84-127) in 14 games against top-25 opponents, averaging 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.
• Made 8-of-9 shots and scored 19 points vs. Butler (Dec. 22) in first game back after missing previous three games with an illness.
• Made 22 straight field goal attempts from Nov. 10-17.
• Made 10-of-11 shots and scored 24 points vs. North Dakota, adding seven rebounds (Nov. 10).
• Followed that with 10-for-10 shooting, including five dunks and scored 22 points vs. Holy Cross (Nov. 14).
• Had 21 points, seven rebounds and two blocks while throwing down go-ahead dunk with 1:02 left in win vs. No. 9 Arkansas (Nov. 22).
• Made 9-of-10 shots and finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds at No. 2 Texas (Dec. 1).
• Owned 17 points, eight rebounds and tied season-high with six blocks vs. Seton Hall (Jan. 3).
• Had 21 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in win vs. No. 19 Providence (Jan. 14).
• Registered 17 points, eight rebounds and five blocks in win vs. No. 13 Xavier (Jan. 28).
• Scored 21 points in BIG EAST Tournament win vs. Villanova (March 9).
• Was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field, finishing with 18 points and three steals vs. No. 15 Xavier in BIG EAST Tournament semifinals (March 10).
• Scored career-high 31 points in NCAA Tourney opener vs. NC State (March 17), making 11-of-14 shots and 8-of-9 free throws while also rejecting three shots. The 31 points were the most in CU history in an NCAA Tournament game, breaking a mark held by Doug McDermott.
• Scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting in Sweet 16 win vs. Princeton (March 24).
• Had 63 dunks in 2022-23.
2021-22: Sophomore at Creighton
• Averaged 13.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots per game while starting the team’s first 34 contests.
• Honorable Mention All-BIG EAST choice, BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year and named to All-BIG EAST Tournament Team.
• Led the BIG EAST in field goal percentage and offensive rebounds per game, second in blocked shots per game and sixth in rebounds per game.
• On a national basis, ranked fourth in both field goal percentage and offensive rebounds per game, 12th in total blocks, 17th in blocked shots per game and 71st in total rebounds.
• His 134 offensive rebounds were the most by a Bluejay in more than 35 years.
• Also ranked among national leaders with CU-best 69 dunks, including six slams at Georgetown (Feb. 12).
• Established CHI Health Center Omaha records for blocked shots (38) and offensive rebounds (58) in a season.
• Had a blocked shot in 26 straight games (Nov. 16, 2021-Feb. 26, 2022), CU’s longest streak since Benoit Benjamin did it in 28 games in a row in 1984-85.
• Notched 100th career block against Butler (Feb. 8) in his 53rd career game, becoming the third-fastest at CU to that milestone.
• Reached double-figures in points in seven straight games from Nov. 11-30 and his final 12 contests (Feb. 12-March 17).
• Became first Bluejay to swat five shots in consecutive games (Nov. 22 & 27) since Benoit Benjamin in 1985, he also had five blocks in a win vs. No. 24 BYU (Dec. 11) and vs. No. 9 Villanova (Dec. 17).
• Blocked five shots in 66-64 win vs. Southern Illinois, scoring six of his 14 points in the final four minutes during a game-ending 12-2 run.
• Had 13 points, six rebounds and five blocks vs. SIU Edwardsville (Nov. 27).
• Shot 7-for-8 and had 17 points in 25 minutes vs. North Dakota State (Nov. 30).
• First Bluejay with five straight games of 9+ rebounds (Dec. 4-Jan. 1) since 2011 (Doug McDermott).
• Made 6-of-7 shots and had 14 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in a win vs. No. 24 BYU (Dec. 11).
• Had then-career-highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds in 44 minutes of double-OT win at Marquette (Jan. 1), adding four blocked shots.
• Had 18 points, 10 rebounds and season-high six blocks in win vs. DePaul (Jan. 22).
• Made first career three-pointer at Seton Hall (Feb. 4).
• Scored 22 points and snared a career-high 15 rebounds in win at Georgetown (Feb. 12).
• Ended with 12 points and 13 rebounds in road win at DePaul (Feb. 17).
• Had 21 points, seven rebounds and three blocks on 8-of-9 shooting in win vs. Marquette (Feb. 20).
• Scored 20 of his 22 points in second half of win vs. No. 18 UConn (March 2), adding 10 rebounds.
• Had 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocks while making a pair of three-pointers vs. Seton Hall (March 5).
• Tallied 15 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in 25 minutes of BIG EAST Tournament semifinal win vs. No. 11 Providence (March 11).
• Recorded 19 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in BIG EAST Tournament final vs. No. 8 Villanova (March 12).
• Finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds in NCAA Tournament win vs. San Diego State (March 17) before leaving with an injury that forced him to miss the Second Round game vs. No. 3 Kansas two days later.
Summer 2021: USA Basketball
• Won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup in Latvia.
• Finished the tournament averaging 5.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots in 11.0 minutes per game in a reserve role.
• Made 18-of-29 field goal attempts (62.1%).
• Had 10 points and four rebounds in semifinal win vs. Canada and made 6-of-8 shots to score 12 points and block three shots vs. Korea in Round of 16.
• Teammates included Chet Holmgren and Jaden Ivey.
2020-21: Freshman at Creighton
• Averaged 5.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots per game in 31 appearances as a reserve, when he wore No. 32 for the Bluejays.
• Team was 15-4 when he had a blocked shot (7-5 when he didn’t), 20-6 when he scored a field goal (2-3 when he didn’t) and 7-0 when he scored in double-figures (15-9 when he didn’t).
• Ranked seventh in the BIG EAST in blocked shots per game (first among freshmen).
• His 38 blocked shots ranked seventh nationally among freshmen.
• Owned 29 dunks.
• Made collegiate debut vs. North Dakota State (Nov. 29), finishing with eight points and two offensive rebounds in 11 minutes.
• Scored 14 points in 15 minutes, making 7-of-8 shots, and added six rebounds and two blocked shots vs. Kennesaw State (Dec. 4).
• Contributed 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks vs. Nebraska (Dec. 11).
• Scored 15 points in 16 minutes of win at St. John’s (Dec. 17), including four baskets in a three-minute span during a game-clinching 22-4 run.
• CU’s first true freshman with a block in first three games since Benoit Benjamin in 1982-83.
Trinity Catholic High School
• Two-time First Team Class 3 All-State Team selection in Missouri.
• Averaged 16.3 points, 11 rebounds and 5.7 blocks per game as a senior, leading the Titans to a 22-6 record.
• Had five triple-doubles as a senior, and produced single-game highs of 26 points, 21 rebounds and 15 blocks.
• Had seven games with 10 or more swats.
• Named First Team All-Metro as a senior by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
• During junior season, collected 389 points (13.9 ppg.), 213 rebounds (7.6 rpg.) and 110 blocks (3.9 bpg.).
• Earned First Team All-Archdiocesan Athletics Association and named Player of the Year as a junior.
• Averaged 10.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.9 blocks as a sophomore.
• High school coach was Jeff McCaw.
• Averaged 7.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and league-leading 4.5 blocks per game in 17 summer contests with Mac Irvin Fire on the Nike EYBL circuit in the summer of 2019.
• Recognized by D1Circuit.com as the Nike EYBL Defensive Player of the Year.
• Ranked as a top-100 prospect by Rivals (69th), 247Sports (75th) and ESPN (98th).
• Also recruited by Purdue and Stanford.
About Ryan
Year Senior
Position Center
Height 7’1”
Weight 270
Wingspan 7’4.5”
Max Vertical 34”
Major Management
Minor: Biology
Awards & Honors
2020-21 BIG EAST All-Academic Team
2020-21 Dean’s List
2021-22 All-BIG EAST Tournament Team
2021-22 BIG EAST All-Academic Team
2021-22 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
2021-22 Honorable Mention All-BIG EAST
2021-22 NABC Honors Court
2022-23 Associated Press First Team All-BIG EAST
2022-23 BIG EAST All-Academic Team
2022-23 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
2002-23 Carl M. Reinert, S.J., Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
2022-23 Dean’s List
2022-23 Field of 68 National Defensive Player of the Year
2022-23 First Team All-BIG EAST
2022-23 I-AAA Athletic Directors Association Scholar-Athlete Team
2022-23 Kareem Abdul Jabbar Center of the Year Award Candidate (10)
2022-23 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Finalist (5)
2022-23 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Watch List (20)
2022-23 Lefty Driesell Award (Nation’s Top Defensive Player) (25)
2022-23 NABC All-District 5 First Team
2022-23 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Finalist (4)
2022-23 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist (10)
2022-23 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List (15)
2022-23 Naismith Men’s Player of the Year Midseason Team (30)
2022-23 NCAA South Regional All-Tournament Team
2022-23 Preseason First Team All-BIG EAST
2022-23 Preseason Jersey Mike’s Naismith Award Watch List (50)
2022-23 USBWA All-District VI
2022-23 USBWA Oscar Robertson Midseason Watch List (50)
2022-23 Wooden Award Preseason Watch List (50)
2023-24 Dean’s List
2023-24 247Sports Preseason First Team All-American
2023-24 247Sports Honorable Mention All-American
2023-24 2023 Hall of Fame Classic All-Tournament Team
2023-24 Associated Press All-BIG EAST First Team
2023-24 Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American
2023-24 BIG EAST All-Academic Team
2023-24 CBS Sports Preseason Second Team All-American
2023-24 College Hoops Today Preseason Second Team All-American
2023-24 College Hoops Today Honorable Mention Midseason All-American
2023-24 FOXSports.com Preseason Second Team All-American
2023-24 I-AAA Athletic Directors Association Postgrad Scholarship
2023-24 I-AAA Athletic Directors Association Scholar-Athlete Team
2023-24 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Finalist (5)
2023-24 Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of Year Award Finalist (4)
2023-24 Lute Olson Award Midseason Watch List (30)
2023-24 Midseason Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Top 10 List (10)
2023-24 NABC Division I Player of the Year Preseason Watch List (20)
2023-24 NABC Honors Court
2023-24 NABC Second Team All-District 5
2023-24 Naismith Trophy Men’s Preseason 50 Watch List (50)
2023-24 Naismith Trophy Defensive Player of the Year Finalist (4)
2023-24 Naismith Trophy Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist (10)
2023-24 Naismith Trophy Defensive Player of the Year Watch List (15)
2023-24 Omaha Sports Commission Awards Male Amateur Athlete of the Year nominee (5)
2023-24 Preseason First Team All-BIG EAST
2023-24 Preseason Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Watch List (20)
2023-24 Preseason Wooden Award Watch List (50)
2023-24 Second Team All-BIG EAST
2023-24 Sporting News Preseason Third Team All-American
2024-25 All-BIG EAST Tournament Team
2024-25 Associated Press First Team All-BIG EAST
2024-25 Associated Press National Player of the Week, 11/12
2024-25 Associated Press National Player of the Week, 1/21
2024-25 Associated Press Third Team All-American
2024-25 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
2024-25 BIG EAST Player of the Week, 11/11
2024-25 BIG EAST Player of the Week, 1/20
2024-25 BIG EAST Player of the Week, 3/9
2024-25 CBS Sports Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year
2024-25 CBS Sports Preseason First Team All-American
2024-25 CBS Sports Second Team All-American
2024-25 College Hoops Today Second Team All-American
2024-25 Dick Vitale National Player of the Week, 11/11
2024-25 Dick VItale National Player of the Week, 2/10
2024-25 Field of 68 Preseason First Team All-American
2024-25 Field of 68 Third Team All-American
2024-25 First Team All-BIG EAST
2024-25 FOXSports.com Preseason First Team All-American
2024-25 I-AAA Athletic Directors Association Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
2024-25 I-AAA Athletic Directors Association Scholar-Athlete Team
2024-25 John R. Wooden Award All-American
2024-25 John R. Wooden Award Top 15 Watch List (15)
2024-25 John R. Wooden Award Top 25 Midseason Watch List (25)
2024-25 John R. Wooden Award Top 50 Preseason Watch List (50)
2024-25 John R. Wooden Award Top Late Season Watch List (20)
2024-25 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Preseason Center of the Year Watch List (20)
2024-25 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Midseason Center of the Year Watch List (10)
2024-25 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year
2024-25 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Finalist (5)
2024-25 Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year Finalist (30)
2024-25 Lute Olson Award National Player of the Year Finalist (30)
2024-25 Lute Olson Award National Player of the Week, 11/11
2024-25 Lute Olson Award Early Season Watch List (50)
2024-25 NABC Defensive Player of the Year
2024-25 NABC Division I Player of the Year Preseason Watch List (20)
2024-25 NABC First Team All-Central District
2024-25 NABC Second Team All-American
2024-25 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year
2024-25 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Finalist (4)
2024-25 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist (10)
2024-25 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List (15)
2024-25 Naismith Trophy Men's Player of the Year Midseason Team (20)
2024-25 Naismith Trophy Men's College Player of the Year Semifinalist (10)
2024-25 Naismith Trophy Men’s Player of the Year Watch List (50)
2024-25 NCAA.com National Player of the Week, 11/11
2024-25 Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team
2024-25 Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year
2024-25 Sports Illustrated Second Team All-American
2024-25 The Sporting News Midseason Second Team All-American
2024-25 The Sporting News Third Team All-American
2024-25 USBWA National Player of the Week, 11/12
2024-25 USBWA Second Team All-American
Personal
• Son of Kraig and Lynn Kalkbrenner.
• His mother played basketball at Saint Louis.
• Married Creighton women’s basketball alum Rachael Saunders in August of 2024.
• Has a brother, Nate.
• Favorite movie is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
• Biggest sports thrill he participated in was Creighton’s Sweet 16 win.
• Favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate.
• Chose Creighton because of the family atmosphere.
• Favorite cereal is Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
• Favorite music artist is Zac Brown Band.
• Hobby is fishing.
• NIL deal he wants is with Bass Pro Shop.
• Favorite meal is sloppy joe’s.
• Sporting event he would have liked to have witnessed was the St. Louis Blues winning the Stanley Cup.
• Favorite current athlete is Robert Thomas.
• Person he’d like to meet is Wayne Gretzky.
• Wears No. 11 because his class number in first grade was 11.
• Favorite book is Beautiful Outlaw.
Meet the Jays - MBB Blake Harper
Friday, August 15
Meet the Jays - MBB Austin Swartz
Friday, August 15
Meet the Jays - MBB Jasen Green
Friday, August 15
Meet the Jays - MBB Ty Davis
Friday, August 15
