Isaac Bonton

Isaac Bonton

Bonton with Washington State in 2020
No. 1 – BC Yambol
Position	Point guard
League	National Basketball League (Bulgaria)
Personal information
Born	(1998-07-15) July 15, 1998 (age 26)
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school	Columbia Christian (Portland, Oregon) Parkrose (Portland, Oregon)
College	Montana State (2017–2018) Casper (2018–2019) Washington State (2019–2021)
NBA draft	2021: undrafted
Playing career	2021–present
Career history
2021–2022	Neptūnas Klaipėda
2022–2023	Cafeteros de Armenia
2023–present	Yambol
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Pac-12 (2021)

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.

High school career

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

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

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

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

NCAA Division I

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

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

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

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. 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.

External links

• Washington State Cougars bio
• Casper Thunderbirds bio