Overview
Nick Martinelli finished his high school career at Glenbrook South in Glenview, Illinois, with 1,331 points and a spot on the 2022 Associated Press Class 4A First-Team All-State, following in the footsteps of older brother Dominic, an All-State player himself. Martinelli landed at Northwestern as a three-star recruit. He played sparingly as a freshman, earned an expanded role as a sophomore, then exploded as a junior, averaging 20.5 points per game and breaking John Shurna’s Northwestern single-season scoring record. As a senior, Martinelli took another step forward, averaging 23.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 35.5 minutes per game on 51.0%/41.7%/80.9% shooting splits. He led the Big Ten in scoring for the second straight year and set a new Northwestern single-season record with 759 points. Martinelli earned two All-Big Ten Second Team selections, two First-Team Academic All-American honors and an Associated Press First-Team All-Big Ten nod as a senior.
Career Highlights
- Led the Big Ten and ranked top 10 nationally in scoring in both 2024-25 (20.5 ppg) and 2025-26 (23.0 ppg).
- His scoring average this past season was the highest by a Northwestern player since 1969-70.
- 2025-26 All-Big Ten First Team selection by AP; Second Team choice by league coaches and media.
- One of three players in Wildcats history to play in four NCAA Tournament games (Boo Buie, Brooks Barnhizer).
- Two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-America First Team honoree (2024-25, 2025-26).
Analysis
Martinelli has midrange craft. He is a left-handed scorer who lives between the paint and the arc, using fakes, jabs and fluid footwork. He converts at a rate that puts him among the most efficient high-volume midrange shooters in college basketball, and he pairs that with a floater, a post fadeaway and the ability to get to the line at a strong clip. At his size, his body is already built for pro contact. Martinelli’s three-point shooting took a significant leap as a senior after modest earlier returns, and his release, while not quick, comes from a high point. On the defensive end, his footwork and strength give him a foundation to compete on the perimeter.
Projection
Martinelli projects as a pick-and-pop scorer, secondary creator and physical wing who can step into an NBA rotation and provide offense from the midrange, the post and the free-throw line. His four-year development arc and improving perimeter shot give him a relatively high floor. In terms of playstyle, he draws comparisons to NBA talent like Jaime Jaquez Jr., Keldon Johnson and Tobias Harris. Martinelli’s combination of strength, scoring craft and basketball IQ could make him an immediate contributor off the bench, with the upside to grow into a versatile piece in shooting-heavy, positionless lineups.
— Profile by RotoWire.com with additional info from the official NBA Draft Media Guide