Luke Bonner
DOB: March 28, 1985


at UMass

Luke Bonner - 2007/08
Center, 2005-, #31
7' 1", 245, Concord, NH / Trinity / West Virginia


Junior year (2007-08) achievements:

Junior year (2007-08) pre-season report from Head Coach Travis Ford: "Luke is somebody who is going to have to go from not having a huge role on the court last year to what I believe could be the best center in the league. His whole outlook about how he is going to approach this season is different than any season that he has had to approach thus far because of the expectations that I have for him and the need that the team has for him to play at such a high level and produce and do a lot of different things that he has to do for our team. Luke is a big body who can really get inside and bang and use his body but he is also a terrific outside shooter from the 3-point line and that's going to be a very dangerous weapon for him. He's has continued to to work on his agility, his athleticism but the sky's the limit for Luke because he is willing to pay the price to be great. He really understands the game and our offense. He is our biggest player so he brings a size element and depth inside. The thing that gets me most excited about Luke is his shooting and his high basketball I.Q., he really understands the game."

Luke Bonner - 2006/07
AS A REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE IN 2006-07: Reserve off the bench, playing 7.2 minutes per game in 31 games, with 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds ... Men's basketball team Student-Athlete of the Year ... After 22 points in his first 24 games, had 23 total points in three games (7.7 ppg) from Feb. 21-28. That included six 3-pointers after just one in his first 24 games ... Converted all three 3-point field goals in win over La Salle (2/28), also grabbed four rebounds in just 11 minutes ... Made third 3-pointer in two games with a key trey against Saint Louis (2/24) ... Career game vs. St. Bonaventure (2/21) with career-high 11 points, career-best five rebounds, three blocks. Made two 3-pointers to double his career total entering the game. Had just nine total points in previous 22 games ... Scored on a sky hook shot in eight minutes at La Salle (1/6) ... Hit his first collegiate three-pointer at Boston University (12/6), hauled in three rebounds and blocked one shot in 13 minutes of work ... Four rebounds and two points at Jacksonville State (11/25) ... Career-best four rebounds along with three points vs. Northeastern (11/19) ... Made a sky hook against No. 4/5 Pitt (11/18) for his only basket of the game ... In UMass debut had six points all from the foul line vs. Dartmouth (11/11).

Luke Bonner - 2005/06
Luke Bonner - 2004/05
AS A SOPHOMORE IN 2005-06: Sat out as a redshirt due to NCAA transfer rules after coming to UMass from West Virginia ... Practiced with the Minutemen ... Retained three years of eligibility at UMass.

Sophomore year (2005-06) pre-season report from Head Coach Travis Ford: "Luke is a big body who can really get inside and bang and use his body but he is also a terrific outside shooter from the three-point line and that's going to be a very dangerous weapon for him. He's got to continue to work on his agility, his athleticism but the sky's the limit for Luke because he is willing to pay the price to be great."

AS A FRESHMAN IN 2004-05 (AT WEST VIRGINIA): Played in 22 games with the Mountaineers as they reached the Elite Eight ... Scored 23 points on the season and grabbed 22 rebounds ... Scored season-high of four against Notre Dame (1/19) ... Played season-best 11 minutes vs. Pittsburgh (2/5).

BEFORE COLLEGE: Starred at Trinity in Manchester, New Hampshire under coach Frank Alosa ... Named New Hampshire High School Boys' Basketball Player of the Year by Gatorade in both 2003 and 2004 ... As a senior, he averaged 16 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and four blocks in leading his team to an undefeated season before being upset in the state semifinals ... Named to the Class L All-State second team. As a junior, he averaged 20 points, 16 rebounds, five blocks and three assists ... Earned Class L first-team All-State honors ... Named MVP of the 2002 Haverhill Christmas Classic and was selected to the All-Tournament team of the 2004 Hooters Holiday tournament ... Served team captain his junior and senior years ... Also played AAU basketball for the Granite State Raiders.

PERSONAL: Luke James Bonner ... Born on March 28, 1985 ... Son of Paula and David Bonner ... Older brother Matt (25), plays for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs after a standout career at the University of Florida ... Matt also played professionally in Italy after being originally drafted by the Chicago Bulls ... Sister Becky (24) finished her basketball career at Boston University in 2004-05 after playing two years at Stanford and is now an assistant coach at Louisville ... Maintains a blog on UMassAthletics.com ... Majoring in Business ... Shoe size 19.


Bonner's Career Highs

Categorywith West Virginiawith UMass
Points4 - vs. Notre Dame (1/19/05)13 - at Syracuse (3/25/08)
Field Goals2 - vs. Notre Dame (1/19/05)6 - at Syracuse (3/25/08)
Field Goals Att.6 - vs. New Hampshire (12/21/04)7 - twice, last at Syracuse (3/25/08)
3-Point FG03 - twice, last vs. Northern Illinois (11/10/07)
3-Point FG Att.5 - vs. New Hampshire (12/21/04)5 - twice, last at Duquesne (1/30/08)
Free Throws3 - vs. Syracuse (3/12/05)6 - vs. Dartmouth (11/11/06)
Free Throw Att.3 - vs. Syracuse (3/12/05)6 - vs. Dartmouth (11/11/06)
Rebounds4 - twice, last vs. James Madison (12/18/04)7, four times, last vs. Florida (4/1/08)
Assists1 - four times, last vs. Villanova (3/11/05)2 - three times, last vs. Florida (4/1/08)
Blocks1 - twice, last vs. Villanova (3/11/05)4 - vs. Central Connecticut (12/22/07)
Steals1 - vs. Pittsburgh (2/5/05)1 - eight times, last vs. Fordham (2/14/08)
Minutes11 - vs. Pittsburgh (2/5/05)22 - at Northern Iowa (11/11/07)


Career Statistics
  Total 3-Pointers   Rebounds  
Season GP GS Min Avg FG FGA % FG FGA % FT FTA % Off Def Tot Avg PF FO A TO Blk St Pts Avg
2004-05
WV
22 0 92 4.2 7 28 .250 0 11 .000 9 11 .818 9 13 22 1.0 11 0 4 1 2 1 23 1.0
2005-06 Did not play under NCAA transfer rules
2006-07 31 0 222 7.2 13 44 .295 7 22 .318 16 28 .571 13 25 38 1.2 46 0 7 6 8 2 49 1.6
2007-08 35 15 387 11.1 45 111 .405 21 59 .356 13 25 .520 29 59 88 2.5 76 1 13 14 25 6 124 3.5
Career 88 15 701 8.0 65 183 .355 28 92 .304 38 64 .594 51 97 148 1.7 133 1 24 21 35 9 196 2.2
UMass Career 66 15 609 9.2 58 155 .374 28 81 .346 29 53 .547 42 84 126 1.9 122 1 20 20 33 8 173 2.6


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