Will NU’s preeminent star be selected in the NBA Draft?
In the entire 21st century, no Northwestern player has been selected in the NBA Draft.
To be sure, many NU alums have gone on to have successful professional careers. But as of now, center Evan Eschmeyer — in 1999 — remains the last Wildcat to be chosen.
There’s a real chance that could change during Round 2 on Thursday night.
Brooks Barnhizer, although perhaps a longshot selection, has a chance to be picked in this year’s NBA Draft. With 59 picks available, Barnhizer could very well slide into the back of the second round due to his unique brand of basketball that consistently terrorized opposing Big Ten players.
NBA teams have taken notice, as Barnhizer recently worked out for the Nuggets, Kings and Cavaliers. Such interest far from guarantees a second-round selection, but Barnhizer has a number of strengths to offer their respective rosters. Because of this, while many websites have Barnhizer going undrafted, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic ranks the 6’6 forward as the No. 45 prospect in this year’s draft.
So how does Barnhizer profile as an NBA prospect, and where might he end up when all is said and done? Let’s take a look.
Strengths
Barnhizer’s biggest strengths are his hustle and toughness, and it’s obvious when watching him play that those traits translate to nearly every aspect of his game. The Indiana native was an elite defender during his time at Northwestern, averaging 2.3 steals per game and 1.1 blocks per game during his senior season.
Although not as laterally quick as many of his draft-eligible counterparts, Barnhizer more than made up for it with hustle and a willingness to sprint, dive or do whatever it took to chase down a block or scoop up a loose ball. He’s at his best when he gets physical inside the arc, doing a good job battling through screens and forcing tough layups and fadeaway jumpers. His 6-foot-11 wingspan profiles nicely in the NBA as well.
On the offensive end, Barnhizer is incredibly aggressive when he drives to the basket. He does a good job of drawing contact, something that could help him gain a lot of trips to the free throw line wherever he plays next. He also distributes the ball well for a forward, so it’s hard to imagine him putting a damper on fellow playmakers in the NBA.
On the glass, Barnhizer averaged 8.8 rebounds per game in 2024-25. Put simply, he knows how to box out, and because he often had to deal with inconsistent post rebounding from his teammates at NU, his own ability to grab boards flourished as a result. Although Barnhizer likely fits best as an NBA small forward, he could certainly play the four in some small-ball lineups for that reason.
Finally, although he shot 26.6% from deep in his senior season, Barnhizer is a decent shooter with potential to be serviceable at an NBA level. He dealt with a nagging foot injury through all of 2024-25, something that clearly affected his ability to push off and jump, leading to plenty of awkward three-point shots. He probably won’t ever be a true 3-and-D wing at a professional level, but Barnhizer is a clutch player nonetheless, and he can be trusted to knock down a three from time to time if he gets an open look.
Weaknesses
The injury is a fair excuse for Barnhizer’s 2024-25 shooting woes, but in the modern NBA, it can be tough for small forwards to succeed without good-to-elite shooting ability. Barnhizer likely won’t ever be a high-volume outside shooter, which certainly limits his star potential at the next level.
Beyond that, the foot injury itself is a mild cause for concern. Although the extent of it is not fully clear, teams may have a reason to worry about the injury’s lingering nature. It seemed like Barnhizer’s three team workouts went smoothly, but it’s always possible that nagging injuries resurface in his professional career given his physical style of play.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Barnhizer may not be able to match the explosiveness of top-tier NBA guards and forwards. Players in the NBA are simply quicker than those in college, and their ability to accelerate and blow by defenders en route to the basket is something Barnhizer will have to adapt to on a night-by-night basis. On the bright side, Barnhizer has a high endurance level that should hold up well, but his relative weakness in explosiveness is still a reason for caution.
Prediction
Ultimately, although many teams may consider taking Barnhizer in Round 2, I believe he will end up undrafted. It’s always tough to compare one second-round prospect to another, but I’d expect teams to be spooked — perhaps unjustly, given the context — by a poor three-point shooting year in 2024-25.
Still, Barnhizer would get immense interest as an undrafted free agent. It’s hard to say where he’d end up, but I’ll predict he signs with the Cleveland Charge and carves out a role with the Cavaliers’ G League affiliate in his rookie season. Barnhizer’s basketball gifts are too great for him to not have a professional career, and with strong G League performances, there’s always a chance he plays himself into a two-way contract down the road.