College stars go early in second round of NBA draft

Former college basketball stars Ryan Kalkbrenner and Johni Broome went among the first five picks of the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Thursday night.

Kalkbrenner, the 7-foot-1 center who won four straight Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards at Creighton, was the fourth pick of the night at No. 34 overall by the Charlotte Hornets. Charlotte also picked Duke forward Sion James one selection earlier.

Broome, a consensus first-team All-American at Auburn who was The Sporting News' National Player of the Year, was picked No. 35 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.

A 6-foot-9 forward, Broome averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 blocks per game for the Tigers in his final year of college basketball.

Kalkbrenner, meanwhile, put up 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per contest in his fifth and final year at Creighton.

The night began with a trade, as the Minnesota Timberwolves dealt the 31st overall pick to the Phoenix Suns for the 36th pick and two future second-rounders, ESPN reported. Phoenix used the opening pick of the second round on Saint Joseph's forward Rasheer Fleming.

The 36th pick reportedly changed hands from Minnesota to the Brooklyn Nets to the Los Angeles Lakers, who chose Arkansas big man Adou Thiero.

NBA draft second-round results, with draft-day trades included --

No. 1 (31 overall): Phoenix Suns (from Minnesota), F Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph's

2 (32): Orlando Magic (from Boston), F Noah Penda, France

3 (33): Charlotte Hornets, F Sion James, Duke

4 (34): Charlotte Hornets, C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

5 (35): Philadelphia 76ers, F/C Johni Broome, Auburn

6 (36): Los Angeles Lakers (from Brooklyn), F Adou Thiero, Arkansas

7 (37): Detroit Pistons, G Chaz Lanier, Tennessee

8 (38): Indiana Pacers (from San Antonio), G Kam Jones, Marquette

9 (39): Toronto Raptors, G Alijah Martin, Florida

10 (40): New Orleans Pelicans (from Washington), G Micah Peavy, Georgetown

11 (41): Phoenix Suns (via Golden State), G Koby Brea, Kentucky

12 (42): Sacramento Kings, C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford

13 (43): Washington Wizards (from Utah), G Jamir Watkins, Florida State

14 (44): Oklahoma City Thunder, F Brooks Barnhizer, Northwestern

15 (45): Minnesota Timberwolves (from Chicago via Phoenix), C Rocco Zikarsky, Australia

--Field Level Media