Overview
Brooks Barnhizer grew up in South Bend Indiana and had a prolific high school career in which he notably averaged a state-high 32.7 points per game as a senior. He was a three-star recruit who committed to play college basketball at Northwestern. The 6-6 wing came off the bench for all but eight games during his freshman and sophomore campaigns. But he became a full-time starter as a junior, averaging 14.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.8 steals in 36.7 minutes. Noted for his defensive prowess, Barnhizer was voted to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team in 2024, and he was also named to the All-Big Ten Third Team (Coaches). He played just 17 games as a senior, with his season being cut short by a foot injury. Still, he improved over his junior campaign with averages of 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks in 37.0 minutes.
Analysis
Barnhizer may be on the shorter side for a forward, but he has a 6-11 wingspan and nearly 8-7 standing reach and weighs 230 pounds. Defense is his standout trait, and he made the All-Defensive team just as much through impressive team defense as he did racking up steals and blocks. Offensively, shooting is the biggest question mark, as his outside jumper and free-throw shooting were inconsistent. Still, he makes up for that with quality ballhandling and playmaking.
Projection
Barnhizer has the tools to become a useful rotation player, and his two-way IQ and defensive activity will get him a long way. If he can become a more consistent long-range threat as a shooter, there’s a lot of upside. The Northwestern product has drawn comparisons to Alex Caruso and John Konchar.
— Profile by RotoWire.com