Dontonio Wingfield facts for kids

Dontonio B. Wingfield (born June 23, 1974) is an American former professional basketball player. He mostly played as a power forward during his career.

Early Life and High School Success

Dontonio Wingfield was born in Albany, Georgia. He was raised by his mother, Gloria, who worked hard to support their family. Dontonio grew up playing basketball at the Henderson Community Center.

He became a standout player at Westover. Dontonio, who was 6 feet 8 inches tall, helped his team win four state championships in a row. He was even named to the McDonald's All American team. This honor is given to the best high school basketball players in the country.

College Basketball Career

In 1993, Wingfield joined the University of Cincinnati basketball team. He was a highly recruited player for the Cincinnati Bearcats. In his very first game, he scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. This was a new school record for a debut game.

He was named the Great Midwest Conference Newcomer of the Year. Dontonio averaged 16 points and 9 rebounds per game in his freshman season. After just one year of college, he decided to become a professional player. He was one of the first college freshmen in nearly 20 years to do so.

Professional Basketball Journey

Dontonio Wingfield was chosen by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1994 NBA draft. He was the 37th pick overall. He played a few games for the Sonics in his first year.

Later, he joined the Portland Trail Blazers. From 1995 to 1998, he played in 94 games for them. On March 10, 1996, he scored a career-high 17 points against the Indiana Pacers. His best month was January 1997, when he scored double digits in five games. This included a game where he had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

In early 1998, Wingfield finished his NBA career. He then played briefly for Baloncesto León in Spain. In total, he played 114 NBA games and scored 423 points. He spent four years in the NBA.

Life After Basketball

After his basketball career, Dontonio Wingfield faced some challenges. In November 1998, he was in a serious car accident. He broke both ankles and five bones in his back. He spent three months in the hospital and a year recovering.

In 2010, he had a leg amputation due to health issues. Despite this, he has continued to inspire others. He wrote a book called “Chasing Success, Finding Purpose.”

Wingfield earned a culinary arts degree in Cincinnati. He then returned to Albany, Georgia, to work with young people. He has coached an AAU basketball team, the Albany Hawks. He is also active in an organization called Save Our Sons (SOS). This program helps young males in Albany avoid gangs and crime.

Dontonio Wingfield has nine children and is involved in their lives. He has coached his children's AAU teams. He also runs youth programs at Henderson Gym, where he played as a child.

See also

In Spanish: Dontonio Wingfield para niños