NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of Missouri of last decade
By Joey Loose
10. Ryan Kalkbrenner – Creighton
A 7’0 center from St. Louis, it’s been a successful journey to this point in the college game for Kalkbrenner. He arrived at Creighton during the pandemic and has played the last two seasons for the Bluejays. He was a bench player getting limited minutes as a freshman but has become one of the key pieces for Greg McDermott ever since.
He wasn’t impactful as a freshman, playing few minutes as Creighton advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. This past sophomore season was a major breakout, as Kalkbrenner became the full-time starter and an impact player in the Big East. He averaged 13.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, setting career-highs with a 22-point, 15-rebound effort against Georgetown. After a run of great performances to end the year, he was injured in the Bluejays’ NCAA Tournament win over San Diego State.
Kalkbrenner led the Big East in field goal percentage, offensive rebounds, and player efficiency and was named Defensive Player of the Year for the conference. He really came into his own and asserted himself as a major force for the Bluejays, not just in the conference but on the national stage. He’ll be back next season for his junior year with a Creighton team expected by many to contend for national glory, likely starting the season among the top centers in the nation.