On Thursday, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected former Northwestern shooting forward Brooks Barnhizer at No. 44 overall in the 2025 NBA draft. Barnhizer is the first Wildcat selected since Evan Eschmeyer was picked by the New Jersey Nets at No. 34 in 1999.

With the 44th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder select Brooks Barnhizer, from Northwestern University.” As those fateful words escaped NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum’s lips, Northwestern ended its 26-year-long drought for a player to hear his name called on draft night,

Passing: Though he may not develop into the kind of NBA playmaker that Austin Reaves has, Barnhizer certainly produced more than most players at his position as a passer. Relative