Note #054: Nick Martinelli (Upperclassman Evolution)
Four-year Northwesterner Nick Martinelli moved on to the 2026 NBA Draft following his final season in Evanston, where he was selected 55th overall.
The Glenview, Illinois native, who grew up and played high school basketball ~10 miles from the Wildcats campus, was a Big Ten breakout in 2024-25 and 2025-26.
As a senior (2025-26), Martinelli marveled in 33 GP (35.6 MP/G):
- 23.0 PPG
- 6.2 RPG
- 2.0 APG
- 0.8 SPG
Since 1947-48, just three Big Ten players besides Martinelli have averaged at least 23+ PPG, 6+ RPG, 2+ APG, 0.5+ SPG:
1. Steve Smith (1990-91) - 25.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.5 SPG (30 GP, 37.8 MP/G)
2. Glen Rice (1988-89) - 25.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.1 SPG (37 GP, 34.0 MP/G)
3. Dennis Hopson (1986-87) - 29.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.2 SPG (33 GP, 35.1 MP/G)
All three players, who were each seniors in the seasons above, were top five NBA Draft picks.
In 2025-26, there were three NCAA Division I men's players (including Martinelli) to average the above per game baselines. The other two:
1. Jordan Riley - 23.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.9 SPG (30 GP, 37.8 MP/G)
2. AJ Dybantsa - 25.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.1 SPG (35 GP, 34.8 MP/G0
Riley was a senior like Martinelli, Dybantsa a freshman.
Okay, now if we go back to Big Ten players (since 1947-48) and remove SPG, two more names enter (that met the PPG/RPG/APG thresholds):
1. Scott May (1975-76) - 23.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.1 APG (32 GP, 33.0 MP/G)
2. Zach Edey (2023-24) - 25.2 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 2.0 APG (39 GP, 32.0 MP/G)
Both players were seniors in the seasons above. May was the 2nd overall pick in the 1976 NBA Draft, while Edey was selected 9th overall in 2024.
Onward to Martinelli's 2025-26 shooting splits!
- 223/418 2P/2PA (53.3 2P%)
- 45/108 3P/3PA (41.7 3P%)
- 178/220 FT/FTA (80.9 FT%)
Since 1980-81, just two others besides Martinelli have shot 53+ 2P% (min. 415 2PA), 41.5+ 3P% (min. 105 3PA), 80.5+ FT% (min. 220 FTA) in a single season:
1. Dennis Hopson (1986-87) - 271/493 2P/2PA (55.0%), 67/160 3P/3PA (41.9%), 215/264 FT/FTA (81.4%)
2. Bo Kimble (1989-90) - 312/563 2P/2PA (55.4%), 92/200 3P/3PA (46.0!), 231/268 FT/FTA (86.2%)
If we remove FTs entirely, five more names appear who met the above 2P and 3P criteria:
550-575 FGA
1. Calbert Cheaney (1992-93) - 256/442 2P/2PA (57.9%), 47/110 3P/3PA (42.7%)
2. Daylen Kountz (2021-22) - 228/421 2P/2PA (54.2%), 59/140 3P/3PA (42.1%)
575-600 FGA
3. Danny Ferry (1988-89) - 255/469 2P/2PA (54.4%), 45/106 3P/3PA (42.5%)
4. Joe Jakubick (1982-83) - 243/458 2P/2PA (53.1%), 53/127 3P/3PA (41.7%)
600+ FGA
5. Glen Rice (1988-89) - 264/437 2P/2PA (60.4%), 99/192 3P/3PA (51.6%!)
Jakubick was the only junior above (all others seniors).
Lastly, one more set of Martinelli senior scoring numbers:
- 6.8 2P/G
- 1.4 3P/G
- 6.7 FTA/G
Five DI men's players besides Martinelli and Hopson (8.2/2.0/8.0) above, since 1947-48, put up 6.5+ 2P/G, 1+ 3P/G, 6.5+ FTA/G in a single season (min. 33 GP):
7.5-8 FG/G
1. John Wallace (1995-96) - 6.7 2P/G, 1.0 3P/G, 7.7 FTA/G (38 GP, 36.0 MP/G)
2. Mitch Richmond (1987-88) - 6.5 2P/G, 1.4 3P/G, 7.1 FTA/G (34 GP, 35.3 MP/G)
8+ FG/G
3. Mike Daum (2018-19) - 6.6 2P/G, 2.0 3P/G, 7.1 FTA/G (33 GP, 33.3 MP/G)
4. Aubrey Coleman (2009-10) - 7.3 2P/G, 1.5 3P/G, 9.1 FTA/G (35 GP, 36.9 MP/G)
5. Trey Johnson III (2006-07) - 6.6 2P/G, 2.3 3P/G, 9.5 FTA/G (35 GP, 37.8 MP/G)
And in addition to Martinelli, and Riley (7.1, 1.1, 8.6) and Dybantsa (7.4, 1.4, 8.5) from earlier, just one more player in 2025-26 reached those per game scoring baselines:
PJ Haggerty - 7.5 2P/G, 1.3 3P/G, 6.6 FTA/G (31 GP, 35.2 MP/G)
Rice cooked in Note #017 on Alabama Crimson Tide transfer Drew Fielder, whilst Hopson debuted in Note #045 on 2026 Draft prospect Otega Oweh.
Cheaney also checked into Note #017 on Fielder.
Jakubick justified entry into the Oweh Note as well.