Stefan Bonneau

Stefan Bonneau (born March 13, 1987) is an American former professional basketball player. Born in Middletown, Orange County, New York, Bonneau played high school basketball for Middletown. He then played for the SUNY Orange Colts of the NJCAA. After graduating, he enrolled in LIU Post to play for the Pioneers in NCAA Division II. In both his seasons with the Pioneers, Bonneau won the East Coast Conference (ECC) championships and was named All-ECC Player of the Year.

This article is about the American basketball player. For the Canadian tennis player, see Stéphane Bonneau.

Stefan Bonneau
Bonneau with Njarðvík in Iceland
Personal information
Born (1987-03-13) March 13, 1987
Middletown, New York
NationalityAmerican
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High schoolMiddletown
(Middletown, New York)
College
NBA draft2012 / Undrafted
Playing career2012–2017
PositionPoint guard
Career history
2012–2014Windsor Express
2014Xinjiang Flying Tigers
2014–2016Njarðvík
2016→ Njarðvík-b
2016–2017Svendborg Rabbits
2017APOP Paphos BC
2017Stjarnan
Career highlights and awards

In 2012, he signed for the Windsor Express of the NBL Canada, with whom he won the 2014 NBL Canada Championship and was named NBL Canada Finals MVP. He later played in China, Denmark, Cyprus and Iceland where he led the Úrvalsdeild karla in scoring in 2015.

Early life and career

Bonneau was born on March 13, 1987 in Middletown, Orange County, New York.[1][2] He was born to Benjamin and Laverne Bonneau and has two siblings.[1] He played varsity basketball for two years in Middletown High School, from which he graduated in 2005.[1][3]

College career

Bonneau came off the bench in the start of his freshman season for the SUNY Orange Colts, but he eventually was the team's leading scorer with 16.5 points and 1.9 steals per game, also averaging 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.[4][5][6][7][8] He had to sit out his sophomore season due to academic reasons.[9] As a junior, he broke his wrist in training to miss the first six weeks of the season.[9] Bonneau recognized that sitting out was of benefit to both his academic habits and his game.[9] In 19 games with the Colts he averaged 30.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game.[10][11][12][13] After his second season at SUNY Orange, Bonneau drew interest by NCAA Division I colleges Providence and St. John's, but he was not able to enroll due to academic reasons.[14][15]

After two season with the SUNY Orange Colts, Bonneau transferred to NCAA Division II college LIU Post.[1] On January 8, 2011, he posted a career-high 39 points against Queens College.[1][16] In the 2011 East Coast Conference (ECC) championship game, Bonneau scored 21 points and grabbed 5 rebounds to help the Pioneers win.[17] He averaged 18.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game, in 30 games, throughout the 2011–12 season.[18] In his senior season, he posted a season-high 32 points against UDC.[1][19] In the 2012 ECC championship game, Bonneau scored 29 points and dished 5 assists to help the Pioneers win the tournament again.[20] For his performances in the tournament he was named its Most Outstanding Player.[20] In his senior season Bonneau appeared in 29 games, averaging 21.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game, in 30 games, throughout the 2011–12 season.[18] He was named All-Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Division II Player of the year in 2012.[21][22] Bonneau was twice All–ECC player of the year, in 2011 and 2012.[23]

Professional career

D-League draft and NBL Canada championship

Bonneau was selected in the sixth round of the 2012 NBA Development League Draft with the 94th overall pick by the Springfield Armor, before being traded to the Austin Toros.[3][24] Bonneau had his rookie season for the Windsor Express in the 2012–13 season.[25] He won the slam-dunk contest of the 2013 NBL Canada All-Star game.[26] Bonneau appeared in 29 regular season games, averaging 7.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.[27] On September 28, 2013 the Brampton A's signed him, only to trade him a month later to the Windsor Express.[28][29] Bonneau had a season high 34 points against the Ottawa SkyHawks.[27][30] He started 33 of 38 regular season games, averaging 22.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game.[27] Bonneau was named NBL Canada Finals MVP and first-team All-NBL Canada for the 2013–14 season.[31][32] On October 31, 2014 the Express traded his rights to the London Lightning for Tony Bennett.[33]

Second D-League draft and China

On November 1, 2014 he was drafted by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants with the 90th overall pick of the 2014 NBA Development League Draft.[34] In November 2014, Bonneau signed with Chinese team Xinjiang Flying Tigers.[35] He appeared in 6 games for the team, averaging 14.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.[36]

Iceland and achilles injury

In late December, Bonneau signed for Njarðvík of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild.[37] He scored a regular season-high 45 points, to help his team win Stjarnan 92–86.[36][38][39] On 17 April 2015, he scored 52 points against KR in the fifth game of the playoffs semi-final series.[36][40][41] Following that performance, opponent head coach, Finnur Freyr Stefánsson, acknowledged Bonneau as one of the best players to ever play in the league.[41] Bonneau led the Úrvalsdeild in scoring, averaging 36.9 points per game, also averaging 7.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game, in 11 games.[36][42] On 17 June 2015, Bonneau signed a new annual contract with Njarðvík; the contract would make Bonneau the highest paid player in the club's history.[43] Gunnar Örlygsson, the team's chairman, compared Bonneau with Lionel Messi in terms of impact on the club.[43] During a pre-season training in September he suffered an achilles tendon rupture.[44] Bonneau stayed in Iceland for rehabilitation, with an intent to join the team in the playoffs.[45] On March 1, he returned to the court with Njarðvík's B-team in the third-tier 2. deild karla.[46] In his first game back with the main team, on March 9, Bonneau again tore his achilles tendon, this time on his right foot, after only playing only 1 minute and 37 seconds.[47] In October 2016, Bonneau signed a two-month contract with Njarðvík. At the end of the contract Njarðvík decided not renew it, citing their desire to acquire a bigger player.[48]

Last years

On December 1, 2016, Bonneau signed with Svendborg Rabbits of the Danish Basketligaen.[49] In 21 games for Svendborg, Bonneau averaged 15.8 points in 30.0 minutes per game.[2] In September 2017, he signed with APOP Paphos BC of the Cyprus Basketball Division A[50] before returning to Iceland again and signing a one-month deal with Stjarnan on October 15, with a team option of extending it to the end of the season.[51] He left Stjarnan on November 3 due to a back injury after appearing in two games.[52]

References
  1. "Stefan Bonneau Bio". LIU Post Athletics. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  2. "Stefan Bonneau Player Profile". Real-GM. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  3. Rodriguez, Justin (November 7, 2012). "Bonneau becomes dad, gets drafted". recordonline.com. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  4. "Orange County Community College 2005–2006 Individual scoring leaders". NJCAA. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  5. "Orange County Community College 2005–2006 Rebound leaders". NJCAA. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  6. "Orange County Community College 2005–2006 Assist leaders". NJCAA. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  7. "Orange County Community College 2005–2006 Steal leaders". NJCAA. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  8. "Super sub Bonneau now force for SUNY Orange". recordonline.com. December 20, 2005. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  9. McMillan, Ken (March 1, 2008). "Orange's Bonneau eyes basketball scholarship". recordonline.com. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  10. "Orange County Community College 2007–2008 Individual Scoring leaders". NJCAA. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  11. "Orange County Community College 2007–2008 Rebound leaders". NJCAA. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  12. "Orange County Community College 2007–2008 Assist leaders". NJCAA. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  13. "Orange County Community College 2007–2008 Steal leaders". NJCAA. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  14. Gleason, Kevin (March 12, 2011). "Gleason: Patience put Bonneau on the path to success". recordonline.com. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  15. Marcus, Steven (February 27, 2012). "Bonneau gives Post a shot in ECC Tournament". Newsday. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  16. "Men's Basketball Pulls Out Hard Fought Double Overtime Victory Against Queens, 98–96". LIU Post Pioneers Athletics. January 8, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  17. Otero, David (March 9, 2011). "Report on the ECC Championship". The Pioneer. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  18. "NCAA Career Statistics (Note: In the Player/Coach Search enter the player's last and first name and press search)". NCAA. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  19. Otero, David (January 25, 2012). "Men's Basketball Takes Down UDC". The Pioneer. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  20. Otero, David (March 7, 2012). "Pioneers Win ECC, Heading to NCAA Tournament". The Pioneer. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  21. "Bonneau, Casey Top All-Met Division II Men's Basketball Team". LIU Post Pioneer Athletics. April 21, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  22. "2012 – Men's Division II All-Met teams". Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  23. "2012 Daktronics Division II All-America team" (PDF). Daktronics. March 20, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  24. "Fort Wayne Mad Ants Select JaJuan Johnson With First Pick of 2012 NBA Development League Draft Live Via Cisco Webex". NBA. November 2, 2012. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  25. Duff, Bob (December 11, 2012). "Duff: Express players living the same dream". The Windsor Star. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  26. Hedges, Brett (April 14, 2013). "Express guard Bonneau wins slam-dunk contest". The Windsor Star. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  27. "2014–15 NBL Canada pre season guide" (PDF). NBL Canada. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  28. "NBL Canada Transactions". NBL Canada. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  29. "A's Sign Three NBL Canada Veterans". Brampton A's. October 7, 2013. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  30. "Windsor Soars Past Skyhawks". Windsor Express. January 11, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  31. "NBL Canada announces 2013–2014 award winners". Halifax Rainmen. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  32. Malloy, Jason (April 17, 2014). "Express defeats Island Storm for NBL championship". The Guardian. Charlottetown. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  33. Parker, Jim (October 31, 2014). "Express trade Bonneau for London guard Bennett". The Windsor Star. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  34. "2014 NBA D-League Draft Board". NBA. November 1, 2014. Archived from the original on May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  35. "Stefan Bonneau ink with Xinjiang Tigers". Court Side Newspaper. November 14, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  36. "Stefan Bonneau Season 2014/2015". FIBA. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  37. "Stefan Bonneau signs with UMFN Njardvik". Court Side Basketball. December 30, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  38. Jóhannsson, Árni (March 26, 2015). "Umfjöllun og viðtöl: Njarðvík – Stjarnan 92–86 Njarðvíkingar taka forystuna" (in Icelandic). visir.is. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  39. Sigurðsson, Skúli (March 26, 2015). "45 stig Bonneau Stjörnunni um megn" (in Icelandic). mbl.is. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  40. Sverrisson, Sindri (April 17, 2015). "KR í úrslit eftir tvíframlengdan trylli" (in Icelandic). mbl.is. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  41. Gunnarsson , Henry Birgir (April 17, 2014). "Umfjöllun og viðtöl: KR – Njarðvík 102–94 KR í úrslit eftir leik ársins" (in Icelandic). visir.is. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  42. "Iceland League Info 2014–15". FIBA. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  43. Jónsson , Óskar Ófeigur (June 17, 2015). "Sá dýrasti í sögu Njarðvíkur" (in Icelandic). visir.is. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  44. Leifsson, Anton Ingi (September 19, 2015). "Bonneau sleit hásin og ekki með Njarðvík í vetur" (in Icelandic). visir.is. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  45. Þórðarson, Tómas Þór (October 29, 2015). "Bonneau ætlar að snúa aftur fyrir úrslitakeppnina" (in Icelandic). visir.is. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  46. Óskar Ófeigur Jónsson (1 March 2016). "Stefan Bonneau spilar með b-liði Njarðvíkur í kvöld". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  47. "Bonneau sleit aftur hásin" (in Icelandic). mbl.is. March 21, 2016.
  48. http://www.mbl.is/sport/korfubolti/2016/11/30/bonneau_yfirgefur_njardvikinga/
  49. http://karfan.is/read/2016-12-01/arnar-vantar-mann-til-ad-brjota-nidur-varnir/
  50. "Stefan Bonneau (ex Svendborg) joins APOP Paphou". Eurobasket.com. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  51. Runólfur Trausti Þórhallsson (15 October 2017). "Stefan Bonneau til Stjörnunnar". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  52. Óskar Ófeigur Jónsson (3 November 2017). "Stutt gaman hjá Stefan Bonneau í Stjörnunni". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 3 November 2017.
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