Born in Albany, Georgia, Wingfield was raised by a single mother. His mother Gloria worked evenings to support the family after Wingfield's parents separation when Dontonio was in the third grade.[1] He grew up near the Willow Wood apartments on Albany's south side and played in the Henderson Community Center.[2] Among the first to stand out in Willow Wood, Wingfield's older brother, Banastreus, played at Auburn-Montgomery.[1]
A 6-foot-8 forward with a 3-point shot, Wingfield had a stellar high school career at Westover, where he led his team to 4 straight state championships, earning him McDonald's All American team honors in a class considered to be one of the best national high school classes ever; the class included Randy Livingston, Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace, Rashard Griffith, Darnell Robinson and others. He started on the four state-championship teams, even as a freshman.[1] Wingfield fathered three children while in high school.[1]
College and Professional career
Wingfield arrived at University of Cincinnati in 1993 as Bob Huggins’ best recruit to date, arriving there precisely after the departure of point guardNick Van Exel. Wingfield had a solid freshman season with the Bearcats, he broke a first-game school record held by Oscar Robertson by scoring 30 points and 12 rebounds[3] in his debut against Butler. He was named Great Midwest Conference newcomer of the year.[1] Called “Baby Shaq” by those around the Bearcat program, Wingfield went on to average 16 points and 9 rebounds for the season, culminating in a 20-point 10-rebound effort in the NCAA Tournament opening round loss to Wisconsin.[3] He hired an agent the day after the Bearcats' first-round loss in the NCAA tournament, the first college freshman in nearly twenty years to go pro.[2]
From 1995–98, Wingfield collected a further 94 regular season appearances, for the Portland Trail Blazers. On March 10, 1996, against the Indiana Pacers, he scored a career-high 17 points, adding seven rebounds and five assists (career-high tie) in a 113–108 win. His best month as a pro came in January 1997 (his third season) when he scored in double digits five times, including a 14-point 12-rebound 2-assist 2-block game at Boston on January 31.[3]
In early 1998, Wingfield was cut by the Oregon franchise, finishing the season with Spain's Baloncesto León. In his NBA career, he played in 114 games and scored a total of 423 points. He lasted four years in the NBA, averaging 10 minutes, four points and two rebounds a game.[2]
Personal
The Blazersedge "Dontonio Wingcast" podcast is named after Wingfield.[4] During college and afterwards, Wingfield encountered various personal and legal troubles, including being convicted for assaulting two suburban Cincinnati police officers. He later sustained severe injuries in an automobile accident.[5] Heading to Washington for a workout with the Wizards the very next day, Wingfield was driving on a wet road near Albany in November 1998 when he skidded to avoid a deer. He broke both ankles and five bones in his back due to the car being flipped and tumbled. Wingfield spent three months in the hospital[2] and then a year to progress from cane to walker, limping under his own power again.[1]
Wingfield has a prosthesis on his left leg, which was amputated below the knee in 2010 due to complications of diabetes. He wrote a book called “Chasing Success, Finding Purpose," which is available on Amazon.[2]
After recovering from the auto accident, Wingfield got his culinary arts degree from Cincinnati and returned to Albany, where he began working with youth organizations, such as coaching an AAU basketball team, the Albany Hawks. Most recently, Wingfield has been active in an organization called Save Our Sons (SOS). That program focuses on providing alternatives to gangs and crime for young Albany males.[6]
Wingfield has nine children and says he's a part of all of their lives. The two eldest, Ashley and Bre, grew up in Albany. Three were raised in Cincinnati – DJ was a three-time All-Ohio high school basketball player played basketball at Ohio University.,[7] Donovan Wingfield who studied music and was a volleyball player at Tuskegee University; and Autumn ‘’Butterfly’’ Mason whom Wingfield didn't meet until 2009, when she was thirteen. Another daughter London grew up in Texas and California and Wingfield met her when she was seven. Wingfield began coaching son Dequan at age 9 in 2004. In 2008, daughter Jay began playing. Wingfield coached their AAU teams, and that brought him to Henderson Gym, where he began his youth program. Wingfield's youngest child, Donjuwan, a student at Douglass High in Atlanta, has stayed with Wingfield in the summers since age 7 and has participated in Wingfield's camps.[1]
Career statistics and player information from NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com
January 20, 2023
dontonio, wingfield, dontonio, wingfield, born, june, 1974, american, former, professional, basketball, player, mainly, power, forward, position, personal, informationborn, 1974, june, 1974, albany, georgianationalityamericanlisted, height6, listed, weight256,. Dontonio B Wingfield born June 23 1974 is an American former professional basketball player mainly in the power forward position Dontonio WingfieldPersonal informationBorn 1974 06 23 June 23 1974 age 48 Albany GeorgiaNationalityAmericanListed height6 ft 8 in 2 03 m Listed weight256 lb 116 kg Career informationHigh schoolWestover Albany Georgia CollegeCincinnati 1993 1994 NBA draft1994 Round 2 Pick 37th overallSelected by the Seattle SuperSonicsPlaying career1994 1998PositionSmall forward Power forwardNumber34 10Career history1994 1995Seattle SuperSonics1995 1998Portland Trail Blazers1998LeonCareer highlights and awardsFirst team Parade All American 1993 Second team Parade All American 1992 Stats at NBA comStats at Basketball Reference com Contents 1 Early life 2 College and Professional career 3 Personal 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditBorn in Albany Georgia Wingfield was raised by a single mother His mother Gloria worked evenings to support the family after Wingfield s parents separation when Dontonio was in the third grade 1 He grew up near the Willow Wood apartments on Albany s south side and played in the Henderson Community Center 2 Among the first to stand out in Willow Wood Wingfield s older brother Banastreus played at Auburn Montgomery 1 A 6 foot 8 forward with a 3 point shot Wingfield had a stellar high school career at Westover where he led his team to 4 straight state championships earning him McDonald s All American team honors in a class considered to be one of the best national high school classes ever the class included Randy Livingston Jerry Stackhouse Rasheed Wallace Rashard Griffith Darnell Robinson and others He started on the four state championship teams even as a freshman 1 Wingfield fathered three children while in high school 1 College and Professional career EditWingfield arrived at University of Cincinnati in 1993 as Bob Huggins best recruit to date arriving there precisely after the departure of point guard Nick Van Exel Wingfield had a solid freshman season with the Bearcats he broke a first game school record held by Oscar Robertson by scoring 30 points and 12 rebounds 3 in his debut against Butler He was named Great Midwest Conference newcomer of the year 1 Called Baby Shaq by those around the Bearcat program Wingfield went on to average 16 points and 9 rebounds for the season culminating in a 20 point 10 rebound effort in the NCAA Tournament opening round loss to Wisconsin 3 He hired an agent the day after the Bearcats first round loss in the NCAA tournament the first college freshman in nearly twenty years to go pro 2 Subsequently he was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round 37th pick overall of the 1994 NBA draft but appeared sparingly throughout his short National Basketball Association career after his debut with the Sonics 20 games 81 minutes he was selected by the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 expansion draft but was waived before the season began From 1995 98 Wingfield collected a further 94 regular season appearances for the Portland Trail Blazers On March 10 1996 against the Indiana Pacers he scored a career high 17 points adding seven rebounds and five assists career high tie in a 113 108 win His best month as a pro came in January 1997 his third season when he scored in double digits five times including a 14 point 12 rebound 2 assist 2 block game at Boston on January 31 3 In early 1998 Wingfield was cut by the Oregon franchise finishing the season with Spain s Baloncesto Leon In his NBA career he played in 114 games and scored a total of 423 points He lasted four years in the NBA averaging 10 minutes four points and two rebounds a game 2 Personal EditThe Blazersedge Dontonio Wingcast podcast is named after Wingfield 4 During college and afterwards Wingfield encountered various personal and legal troubles including being convicted for assaulting two suburban Cincinnati police officers He later sustained severe injuries in an automobile accident 5 Heading to Washington for a workout with the Wizards the very next day Wingfield was driving on a wet road near Albany in November 1998 when he skidded to avoid a deer He broke both ankles and five bones in his back due to the car being flipped and tumbled Wingfield spent three months in the hospital 2 and then a year to progress from cane to walker limping under his own power again 1 Wingfield has a prosthesis on his left leg which was amputated below the knee in 2010 due to complications of diabetes He wrote a book called Chasing Success Finding Purpose which is available on Amazon 2 After recovering from the auto accident Wingfield got his culinary arts degree from Cincinnati and returned to Albany where he began working with youth organizations such as coaching an AAU basketball team the Albany Hawks Most recently Wingfield has been active in an organization called Save Our Sons SOS That program focuses on providing alternatives to gangs and crime for young Albany males 6 Wingfield has nine children and says he s a part of all of their lives The two eldest Ashley and Bre grew up in Albany Three were raised in Cincinnati DJ was a three time All Ohio high school basketball player played basketball at Ohio University 7 Donovan Wingfield who studied music and was a volleyball player at Tuskegee University and Autumn Butterfly Mason whom Wingfield didn t meet until 2009 when she was thirteen Another daughter London grew up in Texas and California and Wingfield met her when she was seven Wingfield began coaching son Dequan at age 9 in 2004 In 2008 daughter Jay began playing Wingfield coached their AAU teams and that brought him to Henderson Gym where he began his youth program Wingfield s youngest child Donjuwan a student at Douglass High in Atlanta has stayed with Wingfield in the summers since age 7 and has participated in Wingfield s camps 1 References Edit a b c d e f g State basketball legend Wingfield finds peace purpose as hometown mentor coach a b c d e Dontonio Wingfield finds healing after past a b c Dontonio Wingfield 25 Years Early Dontonio Wingcast feed Dontonio Wingfield s son Green no longer at Sherwood Christian the Albany Journal Archived from the original on 2010 11 29 Retrieved 2014 06 21 Login MBB Newcomer Profile D J Wingfield OHIOBOBCATS COM Ohio Official Athletic Site Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2014 06 21 External links EditPortal Sports Career statistics and player information from NBA com and Basketball Reference com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dontonio Wingfield amp oldid 1125330624, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
