[4] A consensus five-star recruit and one of the top centers in the 2020 class, he committed to playing college basketball for North Carolina over offers from Duke, Michigan, Virginia and Vanderbilt, among others.

[5][6] Sources: On March 10, 2021, Kessler posted 16 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks in a 101–59 win over Notre Dame in the second round of the ACC tournament.

[15] Kessler was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 22nd overall pick before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, alongside TyTy Washington, for Jake LaRavia.

[21] At the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, Kessler was announced as a finalist for the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, ultimately finishing third in the voting.

[22] Kessler's father, Chad, and his uncle, Alec, played college basketball at Georgia and were drafted into the NBA before becoming orthopedic surgeons.