Hunter Maldonado
Maldonado in 2021
No. 24 – Oklahoma City Blue
PositionShooting guard
LeagueNBA G League
Personal information
Born (1999-03-24) March 24, 1999
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight203 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High schoolVista Ridge
(Colorado Springs, Colorado)
CollegeWyoming (2017–2023)
NBA draft2023: undrafted
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–presentOklahoma City Blue
Career highlights and awards
  • First–team All-Mountain West (2022)
  • Second-team All-Mountain West (2023)
  • Third–team All-Mountain West (2020)

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

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

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

Oklahoma City Blue (2023–present)

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

Legend
  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

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Wyoming 291921.2.388.304.7352.21.41.0.25.3
2018–19 Wyoming 8532.5.420.333.6256.82.31.1.513.8
2019–20 Wyoming 333335.3.422.295.7085.84.01.2.515.8
2020–21 Wyoming 252535.8.419.200.6946.84.61.2.412.5
2021–22 Wyoming 333337.3.495.250.7115.76.31.2.118.5
2022–23 Wyoming 292934.6.481.338.7534.84.01.4.315.6
Career 15714432.9.449.283.7155.14.01.2.313.7

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. 1 2 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.
  3. ↑ "Wyoming men's basketball picks up 2017 verbal commit in Hunter Maldonado". Casper Star-Tribune. June 7, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  4. ↑ Gagliardi, Robert (October 17, 2018). "Maldonado could be on similar path as James". Wyoming News. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "Maldonado scores 32 to carry Wyoming over Idaho St. 54-40". ESPN. Associated Press. November 5, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  7. ↑ Potter, Davis (March 19, 2020). "Leading scorer Hunter Maldonado announces he's returning to Wyoming hoops". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Maldonado scores 30 to lift Wyoming over Utah Valley 93-88". ESPN. Associated Press. December 12, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  9. ↑ Potter, Davis (May 7, 2021). "Keeping track of Wyoming basketball's scholarship numbers". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Maldonado lifts Wyoming over Colorado St. 84-78 in OT". ESPN. Associated Press. January 31, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Mountain West Reveals 2021-22 Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams" (Press release). Mountain West Conference. March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  12. ↑ Napier, Briar. "Wyoming hoops star Hunter Maldonado to test NBA Draft waters while keeping final year of eligibility". Oil City News.
  13. ↑ Thorburn, Ryan (February 9, 2023). "Wyoming super senior Hunter Maldonado adding to 'Cowboy tough' legacy". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  14. ↑ Seeman, Nick (June 29, 2023). "Maldonado Signs with Oklahoma City Thunder for NBA Summer League". GoWyo.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  15. ↑ Adams, Luke (October 18, 2023). "Thunder Sign Hunter Maldonado, K.J. Williams". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  16. ↑ Hill, Arthur (October 20, 2023). "Thunder Sign, Waive Caleb McConnell, Adam Flagler". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  17. ↑ OKC BLUE [@okcblue] (October 31, 2023). "Let's work 🫡 2023-24 #OKCBlue Training Camp Roster🔵" (Tweet). Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via Twitter.
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