[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2025 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Ryan Kalkbrenner
Frame: 7’1″ 257 lbs
Position: Center
Team: Creighton Blue Jays
2025 Draft Age: 23
Stats via www.basketball-reference.com and https://barttorvik.com/   

Offense

Kalkbrenner is one of the more decorated players in college basketball as a three-time All-Big East member, including AP All-American Third Team honors in his final season. Kalkbrenner’s well-rounded offensive game made him a key element of an excellent Creighton attack (27th in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency). He has an efficient shot profile that relies heavily on shots at the rim and three-pointers. During his final season, 81.7 percent of Kalkbrenner’s field goal attempts came at the rim or from three, a breakdown that will likely be similar to his role at the next level. 

While NBA teams have generally de-prioritized post-centric bigs, Kalkbrenner’s blend of size and skill will make him a threat. Around the basket, Kalkbrenner uses his solid footwork and strength to score in the low post. He converted an elite 79.5 percent of his shots at the rim last season, which led all players with at least 150 such attempts. He punishes other bigs and mismatches alike, with the right-handed hook shot his signature finish.  He sometimes struggles to read double-teams, but he isn’t turnover-prone. As a shooter, Kalkbrenner possesses a steady, high-release stroke. He buried a career-high 34.4 percent of his threes during his final season, many of which came at the top of the key. Notably, one-third of Kalkbrenner’s threes were unassisted, demonstrating his ability to shoot off the dribble. He isn’t pulling up for rhythm transition threes anytime soon. Still, his well-rounded shot profile is an encouraging sign, especially given his height and ability to shoot over the defense.

In the pick-and-roll, Kalkbrenner is a good screen-setter. He makes real contact with opposing defenders and relocates effectively after screens, cutting hard to the basket or popping out at the top of the key. He’s shown some flashes of playmaking in the short roll, making some basic reads to find open shooters. Notably, Kalkbrenner is credited with the highest career offensive rating of any Division I player ever (132.9). While offensive rating is difficult to credit to a single player, this demonstrates how dominant Creighton’s offense was with Kalkbrenner on the floor, where it often ran through him.

Defense

Kalkbrenner is a four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year. He does an excellent job of defending without fouling, averaging 4.6 blocks to just 2.4 fouls per 100 possessions during his final season. His 7.3 percent block rate ranked 61st in the country. He uses his frame and long arms to stay vertical when contesting shots at the rim. Against pick-and-rolls, Kalkbrenner likes to stay in drop coverage, where he can contest shots around the basket. He’s relatively unproven when switched onto smaller, quicker ball handlers. This switchability is a swing skill for Kalkbrenner at the next level. He’s fairly light on his feet and runs the floor effectively, so he has the tools to be serviceable when switched onto the perimeter.

On the glass, Kalkbrenner is solid but unspectacular. He had an 18.4 percent defensive rebound rate in his final season, ranking 348th among Division I players with at least 500 minutes. Stronger opponents can push him around, which will be a concern in the NBA. He isn’t afraid of contact, but doesn’t actively seek it out either, and Creighton was never an elite rebounding team during his five seasons, topping out at 46th in rebound rate in 2024. Overall, Kalkbrenner has the tools to be a plus-defender at the next level, though he would benefit from improving his strength.

Looking Ahead

Kalkbrenner’s monster college career makes him a worthy late-first-round prospect. However, he still has some key areas to develop for a sustained NBA career. His ability to react to double-teams in the low post and find shooters will be a swing skill as he develops into an NBA player. Additionally, he can become more efficient as a marksman. If he can improve his pedestrian three-point shooting efficiency in the NBA, Kalkbrenner can put together a profile similar to a prime Brook Lopez.

Creighton’s motion-heavy offense played into Kalkbrenner’s strengths. He would benefit from landing on a team with a similar emphasis on spacing and motion in the halfcourt, such as Golden State, San Antonio, and Boston. While his age (23) works against him as a potential long-term star, Kalkbrenner’s blend of size, smarts, and skill is a compelling indicator of a long NBA career.

Note: Click here for Diego Torres’ 2024 scouting report on Kalkbrenner