Brooks Barnhizer

Barnhizer grew up in Elkhart, Indiana before moving to Irvington, Alabama in 2015.^[2] He began playing for the varsity basketball team at Alma Bryant High School, where his father was the head basketball coach, while in eight grade.^[3] After his sophomore year, Barnhizer's family moved to Lafayette, Indiana and he transferred to Jefferson High School.^[4] He averaged 20.7 points per game as a junior.^[5] As a senior, Barnhizer averaged a state-high 32.7 points per game while also averaging 11.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3.8 steals, and 2.6 blocks.^[6] Barnhizer was rated a three-star recruit and committed to playing college basketball for Northwestern over offers from Butler, Xavier, and Western Kentucky.^[7][8]

Barnhizer played in 11 games during his freshman season with the Northwestern Wildcats and averaged 1.7 points per game.^[9] He played in all 34 of the Wildcats’ games as a sophomore as the team’s sixth man and averaged 7.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.^[10][11]

During his junior season, Barnhizer moved into Northwestern’s starting lineup and started all 34 games, averaging 14.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game.^[12] He recorded 10 double-doubles—the most in a single season by a Northwestern guard—and was named third-team All-Big Ten Conference as well as earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team.^[13] He also played a key role in Northwestern’s consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including scoring the tying layup to force overtime in the Wildcats’ first-round win over Florida Atlantic.

In his senior season, Barnhizer was selected to the preseason All-Big Ten Conference team by media. Through 17 games, he averaged 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game, recording nine double-doubles with a streak of seven consecutive games—a program record.^[14] In January 2025, he aggravated a lingering foot injury and missed the remainder of the season.^[15] Despite the shortened campaign, he earned honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference honors and was recognized as Northwestern’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.

Barnhizer finished his collegiate career with 1,067 points, posting career averages of 11.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists over 96 games (51 starts). He became the first Big Ten player since Michael Redd to reach at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 200 assists within his first 96 career games, while also recording 133 steals and 62 blocks.^[16]

Barnhizer was selected with the 44th overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA draft.^[17]