The top national player for men’s college basketball in Week 11 has been named: Ryan Kalkbrenner of Creighton.
The towering 7-foot-1 senior center showcased his skills dramatically, contributing significantly to his team’s success with an impressive average of 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots across two victories.

Kalkbrenner kicked off his week with a stellar performance, recording 20 points, 10 rebounds, six blocked shots, and three assists during an 84-64 triumph against Providence. His shooting was efficient, hitting 8 out of 12 attempts from the field and landing 2 of 4 from beyond the arc.

He continued his outstanding play in a challenging matchup against UConn, where he amassed 16 points and another 10 rebounds, alongside three assists and two blocked shots. This victory, which ended UConn’s impressive 28-game home winning streak, was a significant highlight of the week for both Kalkbrenner and Creighton.

As an honorable mention preseason AP All-American, Kalkbrenner has been performing consistently this season, currently averaging 17.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and ranking fourth in the nation with 2.88 blocked shots per game.

In the runner-up slot is Trey Kaufman-Renn from Purdue. This 6-foot-9 junior has been instrumental in leading the 11th-ranked Boilermakers to two road victories over the past week.
Kaufman-Renn demonstrated his clutch abilities by scoring 13 of his 19 points in the second half, alongside six rebounds and three assists, to help secure a comeback 69-58 win against Washington. He then followed his solid performance with a remarkable 23 points, 11 rebounds, and a perfect record at the free-throw line in a 65-58 victory against No. 15 Oregon.

Kaufman-Renn is currently the top scorer for the Boilermakers, with impressive averages of 17.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Honorable mentions this week include Rahsool Diggins from UMass, Caleb Grill from Missouri, and Tyeree Bryan from Santa Clara.

Additionally, keep an eye on Hunter Sallis from Wake Forest. The 6-foot-5 guard is experiencing a remarkable second season after his transfer from Gonzaga, leading his team with averages of 19.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists each game.
In a recent outing, he scored 30 points while shooting 12 of 17 during Wake Forest’s 80-67 victory against Stanford, and he followed it up with 24 points, seven rebounds, and two steals in a 72-63 win at Virginia Tech.

The Demon Deacons are currently enjoying a five-game winning streak and hold a 6-1 record in ACC play, heading into pivotal home games against North Carolina and No. 2 Duke this week.