Stirtz chosen as 16th pick in 2026 NBA Draft

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 then his rights were 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...