Denzel Mahoney facts for kids

Denzel Mahoney is an American professional basketball player. He was born on January 18, 1998. Denzel played college basketball for two teams: the Creighton Bluejays and the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks. He later played professionally for the Austin Spurs in the NBA G League.

High School Basketball Journey

Denzel Mahoney went to Paul J. Hagerty High School in Oviedo, Florida. He was a fantastic player there. In his junior year, he was named the Florida 8A State Player of the Year. This is a big award for high school athletes!

Overcoming Injuries

During an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) game, Denzel had a serious knee injury. He tore his ACL, which is a ligament in the knee. Because of this injury, he had to miss his entire senior year of high school. He spent that time working hard to get better. After high school, Denzel decided to play college basketball for Southeast Missouri State.

College Basketball Career

Denzel started his college career at Southeast Missouri State. As a freshman, he played really well. He scored about 15 points in each game. Because of his great performance, he was named the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Freshman of the Year. He also made the all-OVC second team.

Moving to Creighton

In his second year, Denzel improved even more. He increased his scoring to over 19 points per game. This earned him a spot on the first-team All-OVC. After his sophomore season, Denzel decided to transfer to another college. He chose to play for the Creighton Bluejays.

Playing for Creighton

When a player transfers colleges, they usually have to sit out one season. This is a rule from the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). So, Denzel did not play during the 2018–19 season. He became eligible to play again in December of the next season.

He quickly made a big impact at Creighton. He was the top scorer among players who didn't start games in the Big East Conference. He scored about 12 points per game. Because of his strong play off the bench, he won the Big East Sixth Man of the Year award.

After that season, Denzel thought about joining the 2020 NBA draft. But he decided to return to Creighton for his final year. In his senior season, he averaged 12.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He then declared for the 2021 NBA draft. The NCAA had given players an extra year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Denzel chose to enter the draft instead.

Professional Basketball Career

Denzel Mahoney was not chosen in the 2021 NBA draft. This means he was "undrafted." However, he still got a chance to play professionally.

Playing for the Austin Spurs (2021–2023)

After the draft, Denzel joined the Charlotte Hornets for the 2021 NBA Summer League. This is a special league where new players and free agents can show off their skills. On October 6, 2021, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs. But he was released from their training camp before the regular season started.

Soon after, on October 27, Denzel signed with the Austin Spurs. The Austin Spurs are a team in the NBA G League, which is like a development league for the NBA. He played for the Austin Spurs from 2021 to 2023.

In October 2023, the Iowa Wolves picked Denzel in the 2023 NBA G League draft. However, they released him in November of that same year.