Christian Braun

Braun was born on April 17, 2001, in Burlington, Kansas. He played basketball for Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas. As a senior, he averaged 27.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, leading his team to a third straight Class 6A state title. He was named Mr. Kansas Basketball and Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year. Braun decided to stay close to home, committing to play ball for Kansas over offers from Kansas State, Illinois and Missouri, among others. As a freshman, Braun averaged 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, earning Big 12 All-Freshman Team honors. He gained a bigger role as a sophomore, averaging 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He was named to the Second Team All-Big 12 as a junior. He reached a milestone during the Final Four against Villanova, becoming the 65th player to reach 1,000 points for Kansas, finishing that game with 10 points and helping the Jayhawks reach the Finals. In the Finals against North Carolina, he had 12 points and 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season, which helped Kansas rally from a 40-25 halftime deficit. In the final possession of that game, he defended Caleb Love's three-point attempt, sealing the win and giving him his first NCAA title. On April 24, 2022, Braun declared for the 2022 NBA Draft, while maintaining his college eligibility. On May 25, 2022, he confirmed he would remain in the NBA draft and forego his senior season. Braun was picked by the Denver Nuggets with the 21st overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft.