Three-time Big East DPOY announces return to college basketball

The Creighton Bluejays won’t lose one of their crucial players quite yet.

Center Ryan Kalkbrenner, one of the best big men in the Big East Conference, will return to the program for yet another season.

This comes a day after Kalkbrenner’s name was featured among the NBA’s early draft entrees list with teammate Trey Alexander. But obviously, there’s been a change of plans.

Creighton head coach Greg McDermott helped make the news official on Wednesday afternoon. The Creighton coach posted on X, “Hey Ryan Kalkbrenner, it sounds like Coach Bill Self and Hunter Dickinson are coming to Omaha on December 4th. I could use your help that night… what do you think?”

Those who weren’t expecting a response from the Creighton big man were surprised to say the least when he emerged.

“Cancel the honeymoon,” Kalkbrenner quipped.

Then, the news eventually trickled out that Kalkbrenner, indeed, would return to Creighton for the 2024-25 season. Prominent college basketball reporter John Fanta had the news.

“Ryan Kalkbrenner is returning to Creighton for his fifth season of college basketball,” Fanta said.

Kalkbrenner is a three-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year winner. If you’re wondering, there’s only one player to ever win the award four times. That was the legendary Patrick Ewing. Kalkbrenner has a chance next year to establish himself as perhaps the best defensive player in conference history if he takes home the award next year.

[ John Fanta ]

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