The 2026 NBA Draft delivered a surprise for Northwestern fans when forward Nick Martinelli heard his name called with the 55th overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers.
Martinelli, who spent three seasons at Northwestern, capped a breakout college career that saw him dominate the Big Ten scoring charts for two consecutive years.
A Record‑Setting Run
During the 2025‑26 season he averaged 23.0 points per game, shooting 51 percent from the field, 41.7 percent beyond the arc and 80.9 percent on free throws, numbers that placed him among the conference’s most efficient scorers.
His 759 points in 33 games set a new single‑season record for the Wildcats, and his 1,786 career points now rank sixth in program history.
Martinelli also became the only player in Big Ten annals to score at least 20 points against every one of the conference’s 18 member schools, a testament to his consistency night after night.
The draft selection marks the second time in as many seasons that a Northwestern player has been chosen, following the recent pick of Brooks Barnhizer, and it represents the first stretch of back‑to‑back draft picks for the program in the modern two‑round era.
Northwestern University, located in Evanston, Illinois, has seen its basketball pedigree rise steadily, with alumni such as Boo Buie and Dale Kelley having left indelible marks on the school’s legacy.
The Los Angeles Clippers will now evaluate how Martinelli’s versatile scoring can translate to the professional game, joining a roster that already includes a rich history with the franchise’s own brand of high‑octane basketball.
Fans across the country will watch closely as the Wildcat joins the NBA ranks, hoping his collegiate success can be replicated on the league’s biggest stage.