Northwestern University Athletics
Barnhizer, Roper, Simmons Sign with Northwestern
11/11/2020 10:01:00 AM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. - Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins announced that three players have signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday to join the Wildcats for the 2021-2022 season.
The Northwestern Basketball class of 2025 includes Brooks Barnhizer (Indianapolis, Ind. / Lafayette Jefferson), Julian Roper (Detroit, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's), and Casey Simmons (Milton, Mass. / Milton Academy).
F // 6-7 // 215
Indianapolis, Ind. / Lafayette Jefferson
Collins on Barnhizer: "He is a basketball junkie. He's the son of a coach and has been around the game his whole life. He brings great size to the guard position at six-foot six. He is strong and very versatile. Can pass, can handle the ball and can score. He's a winning basketball player. He makes winning plays and has a great basketball IQ. He's going to fit in perfectly with the way we play here at Northwestern."
High School: Ranked as the No. 5 player in Indiana and No. 25 small forward in the country by 247sports.com … Earned six varsity basketball letters and was a two-time captain at Lafayette Jefferson High School … Named to 2020 Indiana Junior All-Star Game … Earned IBCA Underclass All-State Supreme 15 honors … Averaged 20.7 points per game in his junior season.
Personal: Parents are Heidi and Mark Barnhizer … Father played basketball at Purdue and Auburn and coached him all six years at Lafayette Jefferson High School … Mother played softball at Auburn … Older brother, Braxton, plays at Trinity Christian College … Competed against fellow 2021 commit, Julian Roper … Anticipated major is Journalism.
G // 6-4 // 190
Detroit, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's
Collins on Roper: "He's a guy we are very excited about bringing into our Northwestern basketball family. He's as competitive of a kid as I've seen in his class. He's the definition of a two-way player: really takes a lot of pride on both ends of the floor. He's a lockdown defender, a guy who can get to the rim, an aggressive scorer and a strong, powerful athlete as a wing player. I'm very much looking forward to coaching him and seeing what dimension he can add to our program."
High School: Ranked as the No. 4 prospect in Michigan and No. 32 shooting guard in the nation by 247sports.com … Ranked as the No. 141 player in the country by Rivals.com … Earned second team All-State honors in Michigan's Division 1 … Named second team All-Metro by MLive.com … Averaged 18.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.6 steals as a junior.
Personal: Parents are Kelli and Julian Roper Sr. … Father played football at Grand Valley State University ... Mom played basketball at Central State University … Competed against fellow 2021 commit, Brooks Barnhizer … Anticipated major is communications.
G // 6-6 // 165
Milton, Mass. / Milton Academy
Collins on Simmons: "Casey Simmons is a very talented player. He is a super athletic, versatile, long, aggressive wing player. He can slash, he can play above the rim and he's a terrific defender. He's a guy who's gotten better every year in high school. His upside is off the charts and we can't wait to get him into our program. I think he has a chance to have an outstanding future here at Northwestern."
High School: Rated as the No. 1 prospect in Massachusetts, No. 92 player in the country and a four-star recruit according to 247sports.com and ESPN … Two-time All-ISL and All-NEPSAC … Averaged 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in the 2019-20 season … Has played AAU for the Mass Rivals for four years.
Personal: Parents are Raynya and Omar Simmons … Father ran track at Princeton … Competed against fellow Wildcat Boo Buie in high school … Anticipated major is Radio/Television/Film.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
The Northwestern Basketball class of 2025 includes Brooks Barnhizer (Indianapolis, Ind. / Lafayette Jefferson), Julian Roper (Detroit, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's), and Casey Simmons (Milton, Mass. / Milton Academy).
Brooks Barnhizer?????????????? ???? ????????????????????????
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) November 11, 2020
???? @BrooksBarnhizer
"He's a winning basketball player. He makes winning plays and has a great basketball IQ." - @coach_collins #B1GCats | #PoundTheRock pic.twitter.com/bpBa77Obsh
F // 6-7 // 215
Indianapolis, Ind. / Lafayette Jefferson
Collins on Barnhizer: "He is a basketball junkie. He's the son of a coach and has been around the game his whole life. He brings great size to the guard position at six-foot six. He is strong and very versatile. Can pass, can handle the ball and can score. He's a winning basketball player. He makes winning plays and has a great basketball IQ. He's going to fit in perfectly with the way we play here at Northwestern."
High School: Ranked as the No. 5 player in Indiana and No. 25 small forward in the country by 247sports.com … Earned six varsity basketball letters and was a two-time captain at Lafayette Jefferson High School … Named to 2020 Indiana Junior All-Star Game … Earned IBCA Underclass All-State Supreme 15 honors … Averaged 20.7 points per game in his junior season.
Personal: Parents are Heidi and Mark Barnhizer … Father played basketball at Purdue and Auburn and coached him all six years at Lafayette Jefferson High School … Mother played softball at Auburn … Older brother, Braxton, plays at Trinity Christian College … Competed against fellow 2021 commit, Julian Roper … Anticipated major is Journalism.
Julian Roper?????????????? ???? ????????????????????????
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) November 11, 2020
???? @JuBuckets0
"He's a lockdown defender, he's an aggressive scorer and a strong, powerful athlete." - @coach_collins #B1GCats | #PoundTheRock pic.twitter.com/KAMyp8NxNO
G // 6-4 // 190
Detroit, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's
Collins on Roper: "He's a guy we are very excited about bringing into our Northwestern basketball family. He's as competitive of a kid as I've seen in his class. He's the definition of a two-way player: really takes a lot of pride on both ends of the floor. He's a lockdown defender, a guy who can get to the rim, an aggressive scorer and a strong, powerful athlete as a wing player. I'm very much looking forward to coaching him and seeing what dimension he can add to our program."
High School: Ranked as the No. 4 prospect in Michigan and No. 32 shooting guard in the nation by 247sports.com … Ranked as the No. 141 player in the country by Rivals.com … Earned second team All-State honors in Michigan's Division 1 … Named second team All-Metro by MLive.com … Averaged 18.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.6 steals as a junior.
Personal: Parents are Kelli and Julian Roper Sr. … Father played football at Grand Valley State University ... Mom played basketball at Central State University … Competed against fellow 2021 commit, Brooks Barnhizer … Anticipated major is communications.
Casey Simmons?????????????? ???? ????????????????????????
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) November 11, 2020
???? @casey_simmons3
"His upside is off the charts. We can't wait to get him into our program" - @coach_collins#B1GCats | #PoundTheRock pic.twitter.com/B6pJHqeKYR
G // 6-6 // 165
Milton, Mass. / Milton Academy
Collins on Simmons: "Casey Simmons is a very talented player. He is a super athletic, versatile, long, aggressive wing player. He can slash, he can play above the rim and he's a terrific defender. He's a guy who's gotten better every year in high school. His upside is off the charts and we can't wait to get him into our program. I think he has a chance to have an outstanding future here at Northwestern."
High School: Rated as the No. 1 prospect in Massachusetts, No. 92 player in the country and a four-star recruit according to 247sports.com and ESPN … Two-time All-ISL and All-NEPSAC … Averaged 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in the 2019-20 season … Has played AAU for the Mass Rivals for four years.
Personal: Parents are Raynya and Omar Simmons … Father ran track at Princeton … Competed against fellow Wildcat Boo Buie in high school … Anticipated major is Radio/Television/Film.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Players Mentioned
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