Nick Mantis

Nicholas Mantis (December 7, 1935 – August 13, 2017) was an American-Greek professional basketball player.

College career After having a standout career as a high school player at East Chicago Washington High, while playing for head coach Johnny Baratto; Mantis enjoyed a stellar collegiate career at Northwestern, where he led the Wildcats in field goal percentage as a senior. That season (1958–59), he served as team captain, and led them to their best finish in the Big Ten - a tie for 2nd with an 8–6 conference record, 15–7 overall. The Wildcats won nine of their first ten games, dropping a stunner to #5 ranked North Carolina in the University of Louisville-hosted 'Bluegrass Festival Tournament.' The Wildcats spent seven consecutive weeks on the AP Poll, and knocked off the Jerry West-led West Virginia Mountaineers.

Professional career Mantis was selected in the 1959 NBA draft, by the St. Louis Hawks, after a collegiate career at Northwestern University.

Death Mantis died on August 13, 2017, at the age of 81.

Career statistics

NBA Source

Regular season Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG Minneapolis 10 7.1 .256 .500 .6 .9 2.1 St. Louis 9 6.4 .400 .333 .7 .8 2.1 Chicago 33 19.0 .384 .600 2.4 2.3 5.9Career 52 14.5 .367 .549 1.8 1.8 4.5