Hunter Maldonado
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 | |
| |
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).
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 no interest from NBA teams.
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.