The son of Shirley, a school Teacher, and Hiram Kilborn, an insurance executive, Craig Kilborn was born in Kansas City and moved to Hastings, Minnesota, where he was raised, at four years of age. Kilborn was taller than his peers from an early age, standing out on the playground and then the basketball court as he got older, eventually growing to 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m). In the 9th grade, Kilborn was recruited by the Northside Magicians, an all-star basketball team in Minneapolis. He excelled with the Magicians and with the team at Hastings High School as well, earning three letters and multiple all-conference and all-state honors. After graduation, he accepted a scholarship to play for Montana State University, where he earned dual bachelor's degrees in theater arts and media in 1984.