Bonzie Colson facts for kids
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Colson in 2024
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| No. 50 – Fenerbahçe Beko | |
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| Small forward / Power forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | January 12, 1996 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| High school | St. Andrew's School (Barrington, Rhode Island) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Notre Dame (2014–2018) |
| NBA Draft | 2018 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2018–present |
| League | BSL EuroLeague |
| Career history | |
| 2018–2019 | Canton Charge |
| 2019 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2019 | →Wisconsin Herd |
| 2019–2020 | Darüşşafaka |
| 2020–2021 | Strasbourg |
| 2021–2022 | Pınar Karşıyaka |
| 2022–2024 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| 2024–present | Fenerbahçe |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Bonzie Alexander Colson II (born January 12, 1996) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for Fenerbahçe, a team in Turkey's top basketball league, the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He also plays in the EuroLeague, a major European basketball competition. Before turning professional, he played college basketball for the University of Notre Dame.
Contents
Early Basketball Journey
Bonzie Colson grew up with basketball in his blood. His dad was a college basketball coach. Bonzie played high school basketball in Rhode Island. He also played for the Boston Area Basketball Club, an AAU team.
Developing a Unique Style
Bonzie started as a "post player," meaning he played close to the basket. But he was shorter than most players in that position. Even so, he was very good at scoring and rebounding.
In 2013, he was measured at 6 feet 4.5 inches tall (1.93 meters) with shoes on. But he had a very long wingspan, reaching 6 feet 11.5 inches (2.12 meters). This long reach helped him play bigger than his height.
Joining Notre Dame
Many big college teams didn't notice Bonzie because of his height. But the coaches at Notre Dame saw his special talent. They looked at his "player efficiency rating" (PER), which showed how effective he was on the court.
Notre Dame's coaches believed his unique skills would fit their team perfectly. Bonzie decided to join Notre Dame in October 2013.
College Basketball Career
Bonzie Colson had a great time playing for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He showed steady improvement each year.
Freshman and Sophomore Seasons
In his first year (freshman season), Bonzie usually came off the bench. He scored 17 points in a big win against Duke in a tournament game. He was named Notre Dame's Newcomer of the Year.
In his second year (sophomore season), he started more games. He scored 30 points in a game for the first time, helping Notre Dame beat Duke.
Junior Year Success
His junior year was his best in college. He became Notre Dame's top scorer, averaging 17.8 points per game. He also led the ACC conference in rebounding, grabbing 10.1 rebounds per game.
He was even named to the All-ACC first team. Bonzie was the first player under 6 feet 7 inches tall to lead the ACC in rebounding since 1958!
Senior Season and Injury
Before his senior year, Bonzie was named the preseason ACC Player of the Year. He was also chosen as a first-team All-American. Unfortunately, he broke his foot during the season. He broke it again in a tournament game. Despite the injury, he still averaged 19.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game that year.
Professional Basketball Journey
After college, Bonzie Colson began his professional career. He played for several teams in different leagues.
Starting in the G League
In 2018, Bonzie signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers but was later waived. He then joined their NBA G League team, the Canton Charge. In his first G League game, he scored 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.
Time with the Milwaukee Bucks
In January 2019, the Milwaukee Bucks signed Bonzie to a "two-way contract." This meant he could play for both the Bucks in the NBA and their G League team, the Wisconsin Herd.
He made his NBA debut on February 25, 2019. On March 31, he started his first NBA game. He scored 15 points and had 16 rebounds in that game! The Bucks later waived him in July 2019.
Playing in Europe
Bonzie then moved to Europe to continue his career.
Darüşşafaka (Turkey)
In 2019, he signed with Darüşşafaka in Turkey. He averaged 12.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in the Turkish League.
SIG Strasbourg (France)
In 2020, Bonzie joined SIG Strasbourg in France. He had an amazing season there. He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Basketball Champions League in 2021. He also averaged 18.4 points per game in the French league, ranking second overall.
Pınar Karşıyaka (Turkey)
In 2021, he returned to Turkey to play for Pınar Karşıyaka. He continued to be a strong player, averaging 15.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
From 2022 to 2024, Bonzie played for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel. During his time there, he helped the team win the Israeli League championship twice, in 2023 and 2024. He also won the Israeli League Cup in 2022.
Fenerbahçe (Turkey)
In June 2024, Bonzie Colson signed a three-year deal with Fenerbahçe Beko, another strong team in Turkey.
Bonzie's Unique Playing Style
Bonzie Colson is known for his unusual but very effective playing style. Even though he's not as tall as many other players in his position, he makes up for it with his long arms and smart play.
He knows how to use angles to get his shots off. He also plays with a lot of energy and determination. In his later college years, he added three-point shooting to his skills. This allowed him to play as a "stretch four," meaning he could shoot from long range while also playing close to the basket. He even trained with NBA player Jared Dudley to improve his shooting.
See also
In Spanish: Bonzie Colson para niños
