From Division II to NBA Draft

Bennett Stirtz just shattered ceilings, leaping from Division II hoops to the NBA’s 16th pick—thanks to the Thunder trading up to snag him. The son of his high school coach, he’s the second Kansas City native selected in the first round this year, following a wild ride through Liberty High, Northwest Missouri State, Drake, and Iowa, where he led them to the Elite Eight and earned All-Big Ten honors. With nearly 20 points a game and patches on his draft suit honoring every school he’s called home, Stirtz’s journey is a masterclass in grit. Now, the Thunder have their next big thing—and the world’s watching to see how he rises. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/e56d02d462ec2f1e