10 most impactful college players to withdraw from NBA draft
5. Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton
Creighton lost a lot of talented players from its Elite Eight squad during the offseason including Ryan Nembhard and Arthur Kaluma to the transfer portal. Fortunately, the Bluejays get back perhaps the most important player from last year鈥檚 team in Kalkbrenner, the back-to-back Big East Defensive Player of the Year award winner.
During his junior campaign last season, Kalkbrenner averaged 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 2.12 blocks, good for No. 18 in the country. This earned the center not only the Big East Defensive Player of the Year again, but he was also named one of five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, given to the nation鈥檚 top center, and was one of four finalists for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. With experience and national acclaim, Kalkbrenner should be a welcomed return for Creighton as it looks to build on its historic season.
