Introduction
Nicholas "Nick" Mantis (born December 7, 1935) is an American former professional basketball player. 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 1961–62 and the Midwest Professional Basketball League, winning MVP and first-team all-league honors in 1963–64.
Early years
Mantis was a standout player at East Chicago Washington High, playing for Johnny Baratto; he 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 North Carolina in the Univ. of Louisville-hosted 'Bluegrass Festival Tournament.' The Wildcats spent seven consecutive weeks in the AP Poll and knocked off the Jerry West-led West Virginia Mountaineers.