Last week, one of Creighton’s recruiting targets, Kiyron Powell, announced that he’ll play for Houston next year.
The 6-foot-8, 205-pound center from Evansville, Indiana, had scheduled an official visit to Creighton two months ago. He didn’t make the trip. Now he plans to head elsewhere.
So where does that leave the Jays?
They’re definitely in search of a big man. Next year’s roster could use at least one new center.
But they also might add other pieces as well. Creighton’s currently set up to have two open scholarship spots for the 2020 recruiting class — and perhaps more room with the seemingly inevitable possibility of attrition.
Below are some names to watch. As always, presume that additional targets will emerge (or just haven’t yet publicized CU’s interest).
Lead guards
JAYDEN STONE
Size: 6-3, 175
247Sports composite ranking: No. 61
High School: Sunrise Christian (Wichita, Kansas)
Other top suitors: Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Louisville, Michigan State
Stone told The World-Herald last summer that Creighton’s coaches were contacting him daily. He’s an Australia native whom CU identified early on in the process. But he’s broken out since. The playmaking combo guard reportedly took official visits to Michigan State and Auburn in June. The Jays will have their work cut out for them if they hope to lure Stone to Omaha.
Additional guards to watch: Ty Berry (Newton, Kansas), Bowen Born (Norwalk, Iowa), Cincinnati commit Zach Harvey (Prolific Prep in California)
Wings
MAX MURRELL
Size: 6-9, 195
247Sports composite ranking: No. 89
High School: Millard North
Other top suitors: Stanford, TCU, Kansas State, Iowa
Murrell’s recruitment has exploded over the past few months. Creighton’s offer came during the first wave — after Murrell stood out at a showcase event in Kansas City. Given his close proximity to the CU campus, Murrell’s been around the Jays program a lot (he just had an unofficial visit Aug. 1). But other schools are pressing hard. Murrell, the top-ranked recruit in Nebraska, took an official visit to Stanford last weekend. A trip to TCU is next.
KERWIN WALTON
Size: 6-4, 170
247Sports composite ranking: No. 220
High School: Hopkins (Minnesota)
Other suitors: Arizona, Kansas, Iowa State, Minnesota, Ohio State
Walton had a monster shooting performance in a game — he hit 10 3-pointers! — on the AAU circuit this summer. It certainly caught the attention of several coaches at some of the nation’s top schools, including Kansas and Arizona. Both blue bloods offered him a scholarship. But Creighton offered nearly a year ago, when Walton traveled down to Omaha for an unofficial visit. We’ll find out if the Jays can remain in the hunt.
LUKE KASUBKE
Size: 6-6, 185
247Sports composite ranking: No. 165
High school: Chaminade (St. Louis)
Other top suitors: Xavier, Kansas State, Illinois, Iowa
Kasubke spent his summer on Nike’s AAU circuit playing with Mokan Elite, which ended up winning the coveted Peach Jam title for the second time in four years. So he’s been seen. Creighton extended a scholarship offer more than a year ago. Most of the schools pursuing him did as well.
Additional wings to watch: Quevian Adger (Lewisville, Texas), Josh Brown (Brooklyn Park, Minnesota), Ethan Kilgore (Gower, Missouri), Isaiah Rivera (Geneseo, Illinois), juco transfer Jay Scrubb (John Logan College in Illinois)
Centers
RYAN KALKBRENNER
Size: 6-11, 210
247Sports composite ranking: No. 78
High school: Trinity Catholic (St. Louis)
Other top suitors: Illinois, Purdue, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Kansas State, Stanford
Kalkbrenner took an official visit to Creighton back in June, emerging as one of CU’s top big man targets in the 2020 class. But he’s spent the rest of the summer traveling to other schools and examining all of his options. Kalkbrenner ended up leading the entire Nike EYBL circuit in blocks, averaging 4.5 per game in 13 contests for Chicago’s Mac Irvin Fire. He also scored 7.6 points per game and pulled down 8.4 rebounds per game.
MATT NICHOLSON
Size: 6-10, 215
247Sports composite ranking: No. 270
High school: Clarkston (Michigan)
Other top suitors: Xavier, Northwestern, Toledo
Nicholson didn’t log many minutes for his high school team as a sophomore, but his stock has been rising considerably over the past few months. Creighton and Xavier both offered after the first evaluation period in April. Nicholson then spent this past summer playing AAU ball for Detroit’s The Family — he averaged 5.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while making 58.2% of his field goals on Nike’s EYBL circuit.
BEN CARLSON
Size: 6-9, 205
247Sports composite ranking: No. 76
High school: East Ridge (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Other top suitors: Minnesota, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Xavier, Purdue, Stanford
He’s been on Creighton’s radar for a long while. In fact, it was nearly two years ago that Carlson took an unofficial visit to the CU campus. The Jays offered last year, and they’ve been closely monitoring him ever since. As stated above, Creighton does need a big man, and it has playing time to offer. But Carlson has plenty of options.
Additional centers to watch: Powell
Correction: A previous version of this story indicated that Powell took an official visit to Creighton's campus. He did not end up visiting.
Photos: Leading scorers for Creighton men's basketball since 2000
Who has paced the Creighton offense over the last several years? Find out in our gallery of the Jays' top scorers since 2000.
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