Isaac Bonton (born July 15, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for BC Yambol of the National Basketball League (Bulgaria) (NBL). He played college basketball for the Montana State Bobcats, the Casper Thunderbirds, and the Washington State Cougars.

Isaac Bonton
Bonton with Washington State in 2020
No. 1 – BC Yambol
PositionPoint guard
LeagueNational Basketball League (Bulgaria)
Personal information
Born (1998-07-15) July 15, 1998 (age 26)
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022Neptūnas Klaipėda
2022–2023Cafeteros de Armenia
2023–presentYambol
Career highlights and awards

High school career

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Bonton attended Columbia Christian Schools in Portland, Oregon. As a freshman, he played alongside Kameron Chatman and won the Class 1A state title.[1] For his final three years, Bonton transferred to Parkrose High School in Portland.[2] He missed part of his senior season due to a shoulder injury and completed high school as a three-time All-State selection. Bonton originally committed to playing college basketball for Portland before switching his commitment to Montana State because of a coaching change.[3]

College career

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Bonton left Montana State after 11 games in his freshman season due to disagreements with head coach Brian Fish. He averaged 7.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.[4] Bonton transferred to Casper College, averaging 21.4 points, 5.6 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore. He led his team to a Region IX title and was named a Second Team National Junior College Athletic Association Division I All-American.[5] For his junior season, Bonton moved to Washington State, choosing the Cougars over Kansas State and West Virginia.[4] On January 18, 2020, he recorded a season-high 34 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in an 89–76 win over Oregon State.[6] As a junior, Bonton averaged 15.3 points, four assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. He set the program record for free throw percentage during Pac-12 play, shooting 88.6 percent.[7]

Professional career

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On September 29, 2021, Bonton signed his first professional contract with Neptūnas Klaipėda of the Lithuanian Basketball League.[8]

Career statistics

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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

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NCAA Division I

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Montana State 11 0 18.6 .360 .364 .762 2.8 1.4 .8 .2 7.8
2019–20 Washington State 28 27 32.8 .340 .307 .833 3.7 4.0 1.2 .2 15.3
2020–21 Washington State 21 20 35.3 .391 .328 .658 4.0 4.0 2.0 .2 17.7
Career 60 47 31.1 .362 .319 .744 3.6 3.5 1.4 .2 14.8

JUCO

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Casper 31 31 28.8 .436 .365 .843 5.5 5.6 1.8 .5 21.4

Personal life

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Bonton's childhood friend and former Portland State basketball player, Deante Strickland, was shot and killed in August 2019.[9] He dedicates every game he plays to Strickland and his late grandmother.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Root, Ryan (January 31, 2020). "It's more than basketball". The Daily Evergreen. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  2. ^ Lanning, Curt (December 30, 2016). "Isaac Bonton is the leader of Parkrose Broncos". KOIN. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  3. ^ Schwedelson, Paul (December 14, 2017). "Freshman Bonton leaves program". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Schwedelson, Paul (December 15, 2020). "Ex-Montana State guard Isaac Bonton rediscovers love of basketball at Casper, Washington State". Billings Gazette. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  5. ^ Clark, Colton (February 5, 2020). "Bonton rolling with the plays". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  6. ^ Lawson, Theo (January 18, 2020). "With chip on his shoulder, Washington State guard and Portland native Isaac Bonton lights up Oregon State on 34-point night". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  7. ^ "Isaac Bonton". Washington State University Athletics. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  8. ^ Clark, Colton (September 29, 2021). "Former Washington State guard Isaac Bonton to begin pro career in Lithuania". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  9. ^ Lawson, Theo (January 15, 2020). "It'll be an all-too-familar [sic] matchup for Isaac Bonton when Washington State faces Payton Pritchard, No. 8 Oregon". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  10. ^ Clark, Colton (February 5, 2020). "WSU's Bonton settling in". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
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