Troy Baxter Jr.

Troy Baxter Jr.
Free agent
PositionForward
Personal information
Born (1996-03-05) March 5, 1996 (age 28)
Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolOldsmar Christian
(Oldsmar, Florida)
College
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022Windy City Bulls
2022Wisconsin Herd
2022Grand Rapids Gold
2022Fort Wayne Mad Ants
2022Indios de San Francisco
2022San José
2022Antranik
2023Khatsaga
2023Canterbury Rams
2023Trouville
2024Oklahoma City Blue
2024Westchester Knicks
2024Manawatu Jets
2024Calgary Surge
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Troy Leonard Baxter Jr. (born March 5, 1996) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Calgary Surge of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). He played college basketball for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels, Florida Gulf Coast Eagles and Morgan State Bears.

High school career

Baxter attended Oldsmar Christian School in Oldsmar, Florida. He saw his stock rise as he played for Team Breakdown in the Under Armour Association in 2015.[1][2] Baxter committed to play college basketball for the South Florida Bulls on May 1, 2015.[2]

Baxter averaged 17 points, 7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks as a senior during the 2015–16 season.[1] He was rated as a four-star recruit and ranked 90th in the ESPN 100.[1] Baxter won the 2016 American Family Insurance High School Slam Dunk Contest.[1][3] On August 27, 2016, it was reported that Baxter had been released from his letter of intent with South Florida.[1] On September 1, 2016, he committed to the UNLV Runnin' Rebels.[4]

College career

UNLV (2016–2017)

Baxter averaged 4.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game during his freshman season with the UNLV Runnin' Rebels.[5] His playing time did not meet his expectations and the Runnin' Rebels only won four games in conference play.[6] On March 30, 2017, Baxter announced that he would not return to the Runnin' Rebels.[5]

Florida Gulf Coast (2017–2019)

On June 20, 2017, Baxter committed to play for the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles.[7] He had to sit out the 2017–18 due to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) transfer rules.[7] Baxter treated practice sessions as his game time and credits the period with helping him develop a better feel for basketball.[6]

Baxter averaged 7.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks per game during the 2018–19 season.[6] On April 5, 2019, he declared for the 2019 NBA draft.[8] He did not sign with an agent and was eligible to return to college.[9] Baxter elected to return after not liking his draft chances but announced his intention to transfer.[6]

Morgan State (2019–2021)

Baxter desired to transfer to a team with coaches that had experience sending players to the National Basketball Association (NBA).[6] He chose the Morgan State Bears for their head coach Kevin Broadus who had coached 12 future NBA players during his college career.[6]

Baxter averaged 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game during the 2019–20 season.[10] His 1.9 blocks per game were the second highest in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).[10]

Baxter averaged 15.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game during the 2020–21 season.[11] He was selected to the All-MEAC First Team and the All-Defensive Team.[12] He won the 2021 Great Clips Slam Dunk Championship and became the first player to win slam dunk titles in high school and college.[13] On August 9, 2021, Baxter was named as the MEAC Male Student-Athlete of the Year for his academic and extracurricular work.[14]

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Baxter joined the Chicago Bulls for the 2021 NBA Summer League.[15] On October 15, 2021, he signed a contract with the Bulls,[16] but was waived the next day.[17][18] Baxter joined the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League as an affiliate player.[19] He was waived by Windy City on February 1, 2022. He was then acquired by the Wisconsin Herd on February 2; waived on February 6; acquired by the Grand Rapids Gold on February 14; waived on March 3; and then acquired by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on March 18.[20]

In May and June 2022, Baxter played eight games for Indios de San Francisco of the Dominican Liga Nacional de Baloncesto (LNB).[21][22]

In October 2022, Baxter had a three-game stint with Deportivo San José of the Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol during the 2022 season.[22][23] In November and December 2022, he had a four-game stint in Lebanon with Antranik.[22] He then moved to Mongolia in January 2023 to play for Khatsaga.[22]

On April 4, 2023, Baxter signed with the Canterbury Rams for the 2023 New Zealand NBL season.[24][25]

Baxter's G League player rights were traded to the Long Island Nets on September 21, 2023[26] and on October 28, he joined them.[27] He was waived by the Nets on November 3.[28]

In November 2023, Baxter had a three-game stint with Trouville of the Liga Uruguaya de Básquetbol (LUB).[22]

On February 15, 2024, Baxter joined the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League.[29] He played two games before being waived on February 29.[30] He joined the Westchester Knicks on March 14, 2024,[31] where he played two games.[30]

Baxter joined the Manawatu Jets for the 2024 New Zealand NBL season.[32] He was released by the Jets on May 15, 2024.[33]

On May 28, 2024, Baxter signed with the Calgary Surge of the Canadian Elite Basketball League,[34] but was waived on June 5.

Personal life

Baxter is the son of Dianna and Troy Baxter Sr.[6] He has a daughter who was born in June 2020.[10] Baxter cites LeBron James as his idol due to his activism.[35]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Knight, Joey (August 27, 2016). "Heralded freshman Troy Baxter won't join USF". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Phillips, Scott (May 1, 2015). "South Florida lands top-150 Class of 2016 wing". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "South Florida signee Troy Baxter wins dunk contest at High School Slam". USA Today High School Sports. April 1, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  4. ^ Bern, Taylor (September 1, 2016). "Four-star forward joins UNLV's 2016 recruiting class". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Troy Baxter Jr., Zion Morgan, Jalen Poyser leaving UNLV after 1 season". ESPN. March 30, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Troy Baxter Plays Key Role in his First Season for the Bears". Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. February 13, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Caldwell, Dana (June 21, 2017). "FGCU men add UNLV sophomore forward Troy Baxter with last scholarship". Naples Daily News. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  8. ^ "FGCU's Baxter declares for NBA Draft". FGCU Athletics. April 5, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  9. ^ Hardwig, Greg (April 5, 2019). "College basketball: FGCU's Troy Baxter declares for NBA Draft; Scott, Ernst at new schools". Naples Daily News. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Ashley, Mike (December 16, 2020). "After Winding Journey, Troy Baxter Finds Hoops Home At Morgan State". PressBox. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  11. ^ Davies, Spencer (July 30, 2021). "Troy Baxter Jr. had to learn to fall in love with the grind". Basketball News. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  12. ^ "MEAC Announces Men's Basketball All-Conference Honors, presented by TowneBank". Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. March 5, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  13. ^ Sharrock, Rory (April 6, 2021). "Tallahassee native Troy Baxter Jr. leaps over foes as NCAA slam dunk champion". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  14. ^ "MEAC Names Troy Baxter, Jr. 2021 Male Student-Athlete of the Year". Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. August 9, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  15. ^ Schaefer, Rob (August 4, 2021). "Bulls' Summer League roster headlined by Patrick Williams". NBC Sports Chicago. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  16. ^ Chicago Bulls [@chicagobulls] (October 15, 2021). "Transaction: We have signed Troy Baxter Jr" (Tweet). Retrieved October 23, 2021 – via Twitter.
  17. ^ Chicago Bulls [@chicagobulls] (October 16, 2021). "Transactions: We have waived forwards Stanley Johnson and Troy Baxter Jr" (Tweet). Retrieved October 23, 2021 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ Johnson, K. C. (October 17, 2021). "Bulls waive Stanley Johnson, keep Matt Thomas". NBC Sports Chicago. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  19. ^ Brown, Kyle (October 25, 2021). "Windy City Bulls Announce Opening Night Roster". NBA.com. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  20. ^ "2021-22 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  21. ^ Ugarte, Hecmary (April 28, 2022). "Troy Baxter Jr reforzará a los Indios de San Francisco". Récord (in Spanish). Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  22. ^ a b c d e "Troy Baxter Jr". AustraliaBasket.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  23. ^ "Troy BAXTER JR". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  24. ^ "Import Alert!!! Rams family get excited as we extend the warmest welcome to Troy Baxter Jr". Facebook.com/CanterburyRams. April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  25. ^ "Rams ink Troy Baxter Jr., ex Khatsaga". AustraliaBasket.com. April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  26. ^ "Long Island Nets Acquire Returning Player Rights to Troy Baxter Jr". OurSportsCentral.com. September 21, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  27. ^ "Patrick Gardner, Kennedy Chandler, two-ways top Long Island Nets training camp roster". NetsDaily.com. October 28, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  28. ^ "Long Island Nets Waive Two Players". OurSportsCentral.com. November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  29. ^ "2023-2024 Oklahoma City Blue Transaction History". RealGM.com. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  30. ^ a b "Troy Baxter Jr". RealGM.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  31. ^ Westchester Knicks [@wcknicks] (March 14, 2024). "The Westchester Knicks have acquired Michael Harden Jr. and Troy Baxter Jr. via available player pool" (Tweet). Retrieved March 14, 2024 – via Twitter.
  32. ^ "2024 PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENT". Facebook.com/jetsbasketballnz. March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  33. ^ "We've released import forward Troy Baxter Jr. from his 2024 New Zealand National Basketball League contract". Facebook.com/jetsbasketballnz. May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  34. ^ "Calgary Surge Sign Florida Forward Troy Baxtor Jr". cebl.ca. May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  35. ^ Hughes, Chase (July 9, 2021). "Why NBA Draft prospect looks up to LeBron". NBC Sports Washington. Retrieved October 20, 2021.