Creighton's Kalkbrenner Named NABC Defensive Player of the Year
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner was named the National Association of Basketball Coaches Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday.
The recognition was one of five made by the NABC on Tuesday as it announced the recipients of its top Division I coach and player awards from the 2024-25 season, as voted on by NABC-member coaches across NCAA Division I.
Auburn's Bruce Pearl was voted as the NABC Division I Coach of the Year, while Duke's Cooper Flagg earned both the NABC Division I Player of the Year award and NABC Freshman of the Year presented by adidas honors. Auburn's Johni Broome was selected as the NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year, and Kalkbrenner was named the NABC Defensive Player of the Year.
A 7-foot-1 center from Florissant, Mo., Kalkbrenner leads the BIG EAST in blocked shots per game (2.7), rebounds per game (8.7) and field goal percentage (.653) while ranking third with 19.2 points per contest. The two-time All-BIG EAST First Team honoree ranks second nationally in field goals made, third in blocked shots, fourth in field goal percentage, and 19th in points. He ranks second in Creighton history in blocked shots (399), points (2,443), rebounds (1,146) and field goal percentage (.658). Kalkbrenner is one of five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award given to the nation's best center, one of 10 finalists for the Naismith Trophy and one of 15 players on the Wooden Award ballot. A unanimous First Team All-BIG EAST pick, Kalkbrenner also joined Patrick Ewing as the second four-time winner of the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year award.
Pearl has led Auburn to a 32-5 overall record and a spot in the Final Four – his second Final Four appearance with the school. The Tigers won the SEC regular season title with a 15-3 league record.
Flagg has averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game this season, leading Duke to the Final Four. The Blue Devils are 35-3 overall and won both the ACC regular season and tournament championships.
Broome has averaged a double-double this season – 18.7 points and 10.9 – along with 2.9 assists and 2.1 blocks per game. His strong play kept Auburn atop the national rankings for much of the season, and his 25 points and 14 rebounds in Sunday's South Regional Final led the Tigers into the Final Four.
NABC Division I Coach of the Year: Bruce Pearl, Auburn
NABC Division I Player of the Year: Cooper Flagg, Duke
NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year: Johni Broome, Auburn
NABC Defensive Player of the Year: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
NABC Freshman of the Year presented by adidas: Cooper Flagg, Duke