Former Northwest Missouri State University point guard Bennett Stirtz was chosen as the 16th pick in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Stirtz (Liberty, Mo.) was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies and his rights were then traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Stirtz played two seasons as a Bearcat and was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year in 2023. Stirtz averaged 13.9 points per game and handed out 232 assists in 68 games as a Bearcat. He was a two-time second-team all-MIAA performer for head coach Ben McCollum. Stirtz led Northwest to back-to-back MIAA regular season and tournament titles in 2022-23 and 2023-24. Northwest went 60-8 over his two seasons, including 40-4 in MIAA play, in a Bearcat uniform.

Stirtz transferred to Drake University in 2024-25 and was named the Larry Bird Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and the league's Newcomer of the Year recipient. He guided the Bulldogs to a 30-win season, MVC regular season title, MVC tournament title and a win in the NCAA Tournament over the Missouri Tigers. Stirtz averaged 19.2 points per game and dished out 200 assists.

He completed his NCAA career at the University of Iowa in 2025-26. Stirtz earned NCAA Div. I all-America honors for the Hawkeyes and was a first-team all-Big Ten selection by the league's coaches. He led Iowa to the program's first Elite Eight appearance since 1987 as the Hawkeyes went 24-13. Stirtz averaged 19.8 points per game and he was credited with 163 assists. He made 92 three-pointers for the Hawks.

Stirtz is the fourth Bearcat to be selected in an NBA Draft joining Vic Coleman (1984), Gene Jordan (1960) and Al Henningsen (1950).

Northwest Missouri State - NBA Draft Picks
Bennett Stirtz - 2026 (1st Round, 16th Pick - Memphis Grizzlies/traded to Oklahoma City Thunder)
Vic Coleman - 1984 (10th Round, 216th Pick - Kansas City Kings)
Gene Jordan - 1960 (16th Round, 93rd Pick - Cincinnati Royals)
Al Henningsen - 1950 (9th Round, 104th Pick - Fort Wayne Pistons)