FROM CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY. RYAN KALKBRENNER, ONE OF A SELECT FEW WHO HEAR THEIR NAME, CALLED IN THE SECOND ROUND OF TONIGHT’S NBA DRAFT AND MAKE A CHILDHOOD DREAM COME TRUE. KALKBRENNER WAS SELECTED 34TH OVERALL BY THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS AND WATCHED THE DRAFT RIGHT NEXT TO THE GUY WHO HELPED HIM BELIEVE HE COULD MAKE IT TO THE NBA. MACK WAS WITH ME WATCHING THE DRAFT SO THAT THAT MEANT THE WORLD TO ME. MACK HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO ME, HELPED ME SO, SO MUCH ALONG THE WAY. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST LOOKING BACK AT MY FIVE YEARS WITH HIM, I COULDN’T BE MORE GRATEFUL TO BE RECRUITED BY HIM, FOR HIM TO BELIEVE IN ME. BEFORE I BELIEVED IN MYSELF. AND IT’S JUST IT WAS AN AMAZING RIDE AND I’M SO GRATEFUL FOR IT. KALKBREN
Ryan Kalkbrenner selected by Charlotte Hornets in 2025 NBA draft
Updated: 11:04 PM CDT Jun 26, 2025
Creighton’s record-setting center is headed to Charlotte.Ryan Kalkbrenner was picked by the Hornets with the fourth pick of the second round of the 2025 NBA draft.The 7-foot-1 center led the Big East in blocked shots per game with 2.7, rebounds per game with 8.7, and field goal percentage with .653. He was ranked third with 19.2 points per game.READ MORE: Creighton coach Greg McDermott reflects on Ryan Kalkbrenner’s time as a BluejayHis accomplishments also include ranking second in Bluejay history in blocked shots with 399, points with 2,443, rebounds with 1,1146, and field goal percentage with .658.Kalkbrenner joined Patrick Ewing as the second four-time winner of the Big East Defensive Player of the Year.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
PROSPECT HEIGHTS, N.Y. —
Creighton’s record-setting center is headed to Charlotte.
Ryan Kalkbrenner was picked by the Hornets with the fourth pick of the second round of the 2025 NBA draft.
The 7-foot-1 center led the Big East in blocked shots per game with 2.7, rebounds per game with 8.7, and field goal percentage with .653. He was ranked third with 19.2 points per game.
READ MORE: Creighton coach Greg McDermott reflects on Ryan Kalkbrenner’s time as a Bluejay
His accomplishments also include ranking second in Bluejay history in blocked shots with 399, points with 2,443, rebounds with 1,1146, and field goal percentage with .658.
Kalkbrenner joined Patrick Ewing as the second four-time winner of the Big East Defensive Player of the Year.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |