Lafayette Native Brooks Barnhizer Posts Heartfelt Message to Northwestern Fans
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Brooks Barnhizer's career at Northwestern ended in an unfortunate way. Battling a foot injury, the senior will watch the remainder of the 2024-25 season from the sidelines, drawing his time with the Wildcats to an end.
Barnhizer was in the middle of the most productive season of his career. The Lafayette, Ind. native was averaging 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game. He was one of the toughest, most intense players in the Big Ten.
This week, Barnhizer released a heartfelt message on social media geared towards Northwestern fans, students, alumni and everyone else associated with the school and basketball program. He titled it, "Dear Northwestern."
"Four years ago, I had no idea what the phrase 'Dear Northwestern' would mean to me. Now, as I grapple with an injury, I know that it means everything.
"'Dear Northwestern' means I'm addressing all the people that made my time as a Wildcat the most intense, beautiful and transforming years of my life. It means I'm addressing all of my teammates, coaches, and friends. It means I'm addressing an entire community that has shaped me into the person I am today.
"And here i say: Our story is far from over. Because as I go forward in my career, this incredible place will stay with me through it all. And at every turn — with every loose ball, lost tooth, and bloody nose — I'll be representing the people here in Evanston that changed my life."
— Brooks Barnhizer (@BrooksBarnhizer) February 7, 2025
Barnhizer has enjoyed a prolific career in Evanston over the last four seasons. He scored 1,067 career points, grabbed 581 rebounds, dished out 209 assists and recorded 133 steals. The former Lafayette Jeff High School star was also a member of two Northwestern teams that reached the NCAA Tournament.
When Northwestern coach Chris Collins announced Barnhizer's status for the remainder of the season, he was in tears.
"The decision was made to shut it down, and so he's not going to be with us the rest of the year," Collins said earlier this month. "He left it all out there — I'm sorry, I'm getting emotional. I love that kid. Not seeing him be able to get out there today just sucks."
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Dustin Schutte is the publisher of Purdue Boilermakers on SI and has spent more than a decade working in sports journalism. His career began in 2013, when he covered Big Ten football. He remained in that role for eight years before working at On SI to cover the Boilermakers. Dustin graduated from Manchester University in Indiana in 2010, where he played for the men's tennis team.
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