Nick Mantis

Nicholas "Nick" 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. He played for the Hawks, Minneapolis Lakers, and Chicago Zephyrs, during a two-year NBA career. Mantis also played in the American Basketball League in the 1961–62 season, and in the Midwest Professional Basketball League, earning league MVP and first-team all-league honors, in the 1963–64 season.

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

References

External links
Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame entry

Category:1935 births
Category:2017 deaths
Category:American people of Greek descent
Category:Basketball players from Indiana
Category:Chicago Zephyrs players
Category:Greek men's basketball players
Category:Kansas City Steers players
Category:Minneapolis Lakers players
Category:Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball players
Category:St. Louis Hawks draft picks
Category:St. Louis Hawks players
Category:Shooting guards
Category:American men's basketball players