Brooks Barnhizer drafted by Oklahoma City Thunder in 2nd round — the 1st Northwestern player picked since 1999
Brooks Barnhizer's Northwestern career ended prematurely, but the 6-foot-6 wing made a little history Thursday night as the first former Wildcat to be picked in the NBA draft this century.
The champion Oklahoma City Thunder selected Barnhizer with the No. 44 pick in the second round. The senior from Lafayette, Ind., is Northwestern's first draftee since Evan Eschmeyer in 1999 and only the second in the last 40 years.
Barnhizer's final college season ended after 17 games when he suffered a foot injury that required surgery. He was averaging 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists — all career bests — before the injury, and without him the Wildcats missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years.
Over four years in Evanston, Barnhizer played in 96 games and made 51 starts, averaging 11.1 points and 6.1 rebounds. He was the first player off the bench as a sophomore, finishing fourth in scoring on a veteran team that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
As a junior, Barnhizer started all 34 games, averaged 14.6 points and 7.5 rebounds and made the Big Ten's All-Defensive team and third-team all-conference. The Wildcats again advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Round of 32.
ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo described Barnhizer before the draft as 'a good rebounder, capable playmaker and produced a surprising number of steals and blocks thanks to his all-out style of play,' though he raised questions about Barnhizer's outside shooting.
With the Thunder, Barnhizer projects as an 'emergency bench option' on a two-way deal, Woo said, calling him 'the type of tough-minded glue guy that the Thunder tend to covet.'
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