Francis Alonso Explained

Francis Alonso
Position:Shooting guard
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:185
League:Liga ACB
Team:CB Estudiantes
Birth Date:25 May 1996
Birth Place:Málaga, Spain
Nationality:Spanish
High School:Cushing Academy
(Ashburnham, Massachusetts)
College:UNC Greensboro (2015–2019)
Draft Year:2019
Career Start:2019
Years1:2013–2014
Team1:Axarquía
Years2:2019–2022
Team2:Unicaja Málaga
Years3:2019–2020
Team3:Fuenlabrada
Years4:2020
Team4:Oviedo
Years5:2022–2023
Team5:Bilbao
Years6:2023–present
Team6:Estudiantes
Highlights:
  • 2× First-team All-SoCon (2018, 2019)
  • Second-team All-SoCon (2017)
  • SoCon Tournament (2018)
  • SoCon All-Freshman Team (2016)

Francisco Fernando Alonso Martínez (born 25 May 1996) is a Spanish professional basketball player for Estudiantes of the Spanish LEB Oro. He played college basketball for the UNC Greensboro Spartans.

Early life and career

Alonso was born and brought up in Málaga, Spain. The son of former basketball player and coach Paco Alonso, he began playing basketball from a young age.[1] He played youth basketball for Unicaja Málaga and competed for Clinicas Rincón Axarquía.[2] Alonso became friends with his Unicaja teammate Domantas Sabonis, a future NBA All-Star.[3] At age 18, he moved to the United States to attend Cushing Academy, a private boarding school in Ashburnham, Massachusetts.[4] In his only season at the school, Alonso averaged 17.0 points, 6.5 assists and three rebounds per game, leading his team to an 18–8 record and the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council quarterfinals.[5] He committed to UNC Greensboro over offers from Virginia, Elon, South Florida, Iona, Western Kentucky, and Richmond.[4]

College career

Before Alonso arrived at UNC Greensboro, the team had endure seven consecutive losing seasons. He primarily functioned as a catch-and-shoot perimeter scorer as a freshman.[4] He led the team in scording during his freshman season at 13.0 points per game.[6] As a sophomore, Alonso averaged 14.9 points and 2.0 assists per game for a team that reached the NIT.[7] He was named to the Second Team All-Southern Conference.[8] As a junior, Alonso averaged 15.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game in leading the team to the NCAA Tournament.[9] He scored a career-high 31 points in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament versus Samford.[10] He was named to the First Team All-SoCon and was named most outstanding player of the conference tournament.[11] On February 28, 2019, Alonso became the second player in school history to surpass 2,000 career points, finishing with 18 points in a 100-96 win over The Citadel.[12] As a senior, Alonso averaged 17.6 points, 2.5 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game, shooting 37.1 percent from three-point range.[13] He was named to the First Team All-SoCon alongside teammate Isaiah Miller.[14]

Professional career

On 26 July 2019, Alonso signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year with Unicaja Málaga of the Liga ACB. He was immediately loaned to ACB club Montakit Fuenlabrada for his first season.[15] About one month into the season, Alonso suffered an ankle injury at the Supercopa de España and initially attempted to play through it. He had edema in his joint and missed about five months of action while recovering.[16] Alonso played three games for Fuenlabrada, averaging 1.7 points per game, before being loaned to Liberbank Oviedo Baloncesto of the LEB Oro. On 7 March 2020, Alonso recorded a season-high 31 points, seven rebounds and five assists in an 88–70 win over Leyma Básquet Coruña.[17] He later rejoined Unicaja. On 8 June, Alonso announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19.[18]

National team career

Alonso represented Spain during the 2016 FIBA U20 European Championship in Helsinki, Finland. He helped the team to a 68-55 victory over Lithuania in the championship game. Alonso averaged 13.0 points, 3.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game and was named to the Championship’s All-Star Five team.[19]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bedrosian . Alyssa . Spartan Spotlight: Francis Alonso . UNCGNews . 22 May 2020 . 8 January 2019.
  2. Web site: El base-escolta Francis Alonso se incorpora al Liberbank Oviedo . . 22 May 2020 . es . 13 February 2020.
  3. Web site: Meehan . Jim . UNC Greensboro guard Francis Alonso childhood friend, teammate of former Gonzaga star Domantas Sabonis . . 22 May 2020 . 13 March 2018.
  4. Web site: Mills . Jeff . Cultural gifts: Spanish star Francis Alonso helps change UNCG into a winner . . 22 May 2020 . 8 March 2019.
  5. Web site: Men's Basketball Signs Francisco Alonso To NLI . UNC Greensboro . 22 May 2020 . 16 April 2015.
  6. News: Mills . Jeff . Triad college basketball previews: A&T, UNCG, High Point and Elon . May 23, 2020 . . November 10, 2016.
  7. News: Osborne . Brandon . Tale of the Tape: UVA vs. UNC Greensboro . May 23, 2020 . 247 Sports . November 10, 2017.
  8. Men's basketball annual awards announced . Southern Conference . March 1, 2017 . March 1, 2017.
  9. News: Berkowitz . Steve . NCAA tournament bracket: 2018 March Madness West region capsules . May 23, 2020 . . March 18, 2018.
  10. News: Mills . Jeff . Francis Alonso's 31 points power UNCG to comeback victory at SoCon Tournament . May 23, 2020 . . March 9, 2019.
  11. Web site: Ten SoCon players earn NABC All-District honors . . May 23, 2020 . March 14, 2018.
  12. News: Francis Alonso passes 2,000 points for UNCG in win over The Citadel. February 28, 2019. Greensboro News and Record. February 28, 2019.
  13. News: Chasen . Scott . What Bill Self said about facing UNC Greensboro for AFH opener . May 23, 2020 . 247 Sports . November 8, 2019.
  14. News: All-Southern Conference men's basketball teams announced. March 6, 2019. Southern Conference. March 6, 2019.
  15. Web site: Francis Alonso returns to Unicaja . . 23 May 2020 . 26 July 2019.
  16. Web site: Calderón . Juan . Francis Alonso, una temporada que nunca olvidará . . 23 May 2020 . es . 5 April 2020.
  17. Web site: Maestre . Mike . Francis Alonso empieza a salirse en la LEB Oro tras su etapa en la Liga Endesa . Gigantes del Basket . 23 May 2020 . es . 7 March 2020.
  18. Web site: Malaga's Francis Alonso tests positive for coronavirus . EuroHoops . 9 June 2020 . 8 June 2020.
  19. News: McCollester . Matt . UNCG's Francis Alonso Leads Spain To U20 European Championship . May 23, 2020 . WFMY . July 25, 2016.