Hunter Maldonado
Hunter Maldonado (born March 24, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Wyoming Cowboys of the Mountain West Conference (MWC).
Maldonado in 2021 | |
| No. 24 – Oklahoma City Blue | |
|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard |
| League | NBA G League |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 24, 1999 |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 203 lb (92 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Vista Ridge (Colorado Springs, Colorado) |
| College | Wyoming (2017–2023) |
| NBA draft | 2023: undrafted |
| Playing career | 2023–present |
| Career history | |
| 2023–present | Oklahoma City Blue |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
High school career edit
Maldonado attended Vista Ridge High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As a junior, he averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and two steals per game, helping lead Vista Ridge to a 20–7 record and a berth in the 4A state semifinals. Maldonado was named The Gazette 5A-4A Boys' Basketball Peak Performer of the Year.[1] He scored 37 points in a loss to Pueblo West High School.[2] Regarded as a two-star recruit, in June 2016, Maldonado committed to playing college basketball for Wyoming.[3] He had received interest from several other Division I programs and a scholarship offer from Division II Colorado–Colorado Springs.[2]
College career edit
Maldonado averaged 5.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game as a freshman, making 19 starts.[4] As a sophomore, Maldonado averaged 13.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in eight games. However, his season was ended by a sprained knee ligament and back spasms, and he took a medical redshirt.[5] On November 5, 2019, he scored a season-high 32 points in a 54–40 win over Idaho State.[6] Maldonado averaged 15.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and four assists per game as a redshirt sophomore, while shooting 42 percent from the field. He was a Third Team All-Mountain West selection by the league media.[7] On December 12, 2020, he scored a season-high 30 points in a 93–88 win over Utah Valley.[8] As a redshirt junior, Maldonado averaged 12.5 points per game, and led Wyoming with 6.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.[9] On January 31, 2022, he scored a career-high 35 points in a 84–78 overtime win against Colorado State.[10] Maldonado was named to the First Team All-Mountain West as a fifth-year senior.[11]
On March 22, 2022, Maldonado declared for the 2022 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility,[12] but later withdrew from the draft after receiving zero interest from NBA teams. NBA teams do not think that he can compete at the next level.
On February 9, 2023, he scored 17 points in a 69-59 loss to UNLV and became the fifth player in program history to pass the 2,000-point threshold.[13]
Professional career edit
Oklahoma City Blue (2023–present) edit
After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Maldonado joined the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 2023 NBA Summer League[14] and on October 18, 2023, he signed with them.[15] However, he was waived the next day[16] and on October 31, he joined the Oklahoma City Blue.[17]
Career statistics edit
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
College edit
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Wyoming | 29 | 19 | 21.2 | .388 | .304 | .735 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 1.0 | .2 | 5.3 |
| 2018–19 | Wyoming | 8 | 5 | 32.5 | .420 | .333 | .625 | 6.8 | 2.3 | 1.1 | .5 | 13.8 |
| 2019–20 | Wyoming | 33 | 33 | 35.3 | .422 | .295 | .708 | 5.8 | 4.0 | 1.2 | .5 | 15.8 |
| 2020–21 | Wyoming | 25 | 25 | 35.8 | .419 | .200 | .694 | 6.8 | 4.6 | 1.2 | .4 | 12.5 |
| 2021–22 | Wyoming | 33 | 33 | 37.3 | .495 | .250 | .711 | 5.7 | 6.3 | 1.2 | .1 | 18.5 |
| 2022–23 | Wyoming | 29 | 29 | 34.6 | .481 | .338 | .753 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 1.4 | .3 | 15.6 |
| Career | 157 | 144 | 32.9 | .449 | .283 | .715 | 5.1 | 4.0 | 1.2 | .3 | 13.7 | |
References edit
- ^ Shaw, Justin (April 6, 2016). "The Gazette 5A-4A Boys' Basketball Peak Performer of the Year: Hunter Maldonado, Vista Ridge". The Gazette. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Foster, Brandon (June 8, 2016). "Hunter Maldonado wastes no time in becoming first UW recruit under Allen Edwards". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
- ^ "Wyoming men's basketball picks up 2017 verbal commit in Hunter Maldonado". Casper Star-Tribune. June 7, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
- ^ Gagliardi, Robert (October 17, 2018). "Maldonado could be on similar path as James". Wyoming News. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
- ^ Briggeman, Brent (October 20, 2019). "Vista Ridge grad Hunter Maldonado ready to lead for Wyoming hoops after receiving medical redshirt". The Gazette. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
- ^ "Maldonado scores 32 to carry Wyoming over Idaho St. 54-40". ESPN. Associated Press. November 5, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
- ^ Potter, Davis (March 19, 2020). "Leading scorer Hunter Maldonado announces he's returning to Wyoming hoops". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
- ^ "Maldonado scores 30 to lift Wyoming over Utah Valley 93-88". ESPN. Associated Press. December 12, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
- ^ Potter, Davis (May 7, 2021). "Keeping track of Wyoming basketball's scholarship numbers". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
- ^ "Maldonado lifts Wyoming over Colorado St. 84-78 in OT". ESPN. Associated Press. January 31, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
- ^ "Mountain West Reveals 2021-22 Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams" (Press release). Mountain West Conference. March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ Napier, Briar. "Wyoming hoops star Hunter Maldonado to test NBA Draft waters while keeping final year of eligibility". Oil City News.
- ^ Thorburn, Ryan (February 9, 2023). "Wyoming super senior Hunter Maldonado adding to 'Cowboy tough' legacy". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ Seeman, Nick (June 29, 2023). "Maldonado Signs with Oklahoma City Thunder for NBA Summer League". GoWyo.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
- ^ Adams, Luke (October 18, 2023). "Thunder Sign Hunter Maldonado, K.J. Williams". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ Hill, Arthur (October 20, 2023). "Thunder Sign, Waive Caleb McConnell, Adam Flagler". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- ^ OKC BLUE [@okcblue] (October 31, 2023). "Let's work 🫡 2023-24 #OKCBlue Training Camp Roster🔵" (Tweet). Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via Twitter.
External links edit
- Wyoming Cowboys bio