Iverson Molinar Explained

Iverson Molinar
Position:Shooting guard / point guard
Height M:1.91
Weight Kg:86
League:CIBACOPA
Team:Ostioneros de Guaymas
Number:1
Birth Date:3 December 1999
Birth Place:Panama City, Panama
High School:
College:Mississippi State (2019–2022)
Draft Year:2022
Career Start:2022
Years1:20222023
Team1:Wisconsin Herd
Years2:2023–2024
Team2:Capitanes de Ciudad de México
Years3:2024–present
Team3:Ostioneros de Guaymas
Highlights:
  • First-team All-SEC (2022)

Iverson Latrell Molinar Jones (born December 3, 1999) is a Panamanian professional basketball player for the Ostioneros de Guaymas of the Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacífico (CIBACOPA). He played college basketball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Early life and high school career

Molinar grew up in Panama City, Panama.[1] He moved to the United States at age 15 to play for Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, California.[2] As a junior at Covenant Christian Ministries Academy in Marietta, Georgia, Molinar averaged 21.5 points, six rebounds and five assists per game.[3] He played for Veritas National Prep School as a senior. Molinar also competed for Team Why Not, an Amateur Athletic Union program founded by NBA player Russell Westbrook.[4] He committed to playing college basketball for Mississippi State over offers from Arizona and Arizona State, among others.[1]

College career

On November 21, 2019, Molinar scored a freshman season-high 21 points in an 80–66 win over Tulane.[5] As a freshman, he averaged 5.9 points per game. He missed the first three games of his sophomore season after testing positive for COVID-19.[6] On January 9, 2021, Molinar recorded 24 points, eight rebounds and four steals in an 84–81 victory over Vanderbilt. He was subsequently named Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Week.[7] As a sophomore, Molinar averaged 16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.[8] On January 12, 2022, Molinar scored 28 points in a 88–72 win against Georgia.[9] On January 25, 2022, he scored a career-high 30 points in a 82–74 overtime loss against Kentucky.[10] Molinar was named to the First Team All-SEC as a junior.[11] As a junior, he averaged 17.5 points, 3.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. On March 25, 2022, Molinar declared for the 2022 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility.[12] He later signed with an agent, forgoing his remaining eligibility.[13]

Professional career

Wisconsin Herd (2022–2023)

After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Molinar joined the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2022 NBA Summer League and on September 19, 2022, he signed with them.[14] However, he was waived the next day[15] and subsequently joined the Wisconsin Herd, making the opening day roster.[16]

After rejoining Milwaukee for the 2023 NBA Summer League, Molinar re-signed with the Bucks on September 2, 2023. However, he was waived on the same day.[17] On October 30, Molinar rejoined the Wisconsin Herd.[18]

Capitanes de Ciudad de México (2023–2024)

On December 8, 2023, Molinar was traded to the Capitanes de Ciudad de México.[19]

Ostioneros de Guaymas (2024–present)

On April 26, 2024, Molinar signed with the Ostioneros de Guaymas of the Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacífico.[20]

National team career

Molinar played for Panama's junior national teams from the age of 10.[1] He made his debut with the senior national team at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup, averaging three points per game.[21]

Career statistics

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Mississippi State| 31 || 8 || 15.4 || .489 || .371 || .768 || 1.0 || 1.3 || .3 || .1 || 5.9|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| Mississippi State| 30 || 29 || 32.6 || .478 || .436 || .804 || 3.7 || 2.3 || .9 || .1 || 16.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| style="text-align:left;"| Mississippi State| 34 || 34 || 34.1 || .454 || .252 || .868 || 3.1 || 3.6 || 1.2 || .4 || 17.5|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 95 || 71 || 27.5 || .468 || .346 || .831 || 2.6 || 2.4 || .8 || .2 || 13.5

Personal life

Molinar is the son of Leyza Jones and Manuel Molinar.[1] He is named after Hall of Fame basketball player Allen Iverson. He speaks English, Spanish and Italian.[22]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Horka . Tyler . 'Panamanian Prince': How Iverson Molinar made it to Mississippi State . . January 13, 2021 . December 13, 2019.
  2. Web site: Zaldivar . Gabe . Veritas Prep Is Reshaping American Basketball With Latino Flavor . . January 13, 2021 . July 8, 2020.
  3. Web site: Lowery . Logan . MSU adds commitment from Molinar . . January 13, 2021 . October 23, 2018.
  4. Web site: Lowery . Logan . Molinar made his own way to MSU . . January 13, 2021 . February 7, 2020.
  5. Web site: Iverson Molinar, Mississippi State cruise past Tulane; Villanova is next in Myrtle Beach Invitational . . . January 13, 2021 . November 21, 2019.
  6. Web site: Coleman . Joel . Iverson Molinar's return expected to boost Bulldogs as Mississippi State gets set to host North Texas . . January 13, 2021 . December 3, 2020.
  7. Web site: Middleton . Dalton . MSU's Molinar named SEC Player of the Week . . January 13, 2021 . January 11, 2021.
  8. Web site: O'Connell . Robert . Panamanians Division 1 players stats last season . Latinbasket . September 2, 2021 . May 6, 2021.
  9. News: Molinar scores 28, MSU hands Georgia 5th loss in row 88-72 . January 13, 2022 . . . January 12, 2022.
  10. News: No. 12 Kentucky needs OT to give Calipari his 800th win . April 29, 2022 . . . January 25, 2022.
  11. Men's Basketball All-SEC Teams & Awards Announced . . March 8, 2022 . March 8, 2022.
  12. Web site: Thompson . Khari . Mississippi State basketball's Iverson Molinar declares for 2022 NBA Draft . . April 29, 2022 . March 25, 2022.
  13. Web site: Krajisnik . Stefan . Mississippi State basketball's Iverson Molinar signs with agent, foregoes eligibility . . April 29, 2022 . April 26, 2022.
  14. Web site: James. Foglio. Bucks sign guard Iverson Molinar to one-year, $1.02 million deal. BasketballInsiders.com. September 19, 2022. September 3, 2023.
  15. Web site: Luke. Adams. Bucks Waive Iverson Molinar. HoopsRumors.com. September 20, 2022. September 3, 2023.
  16. Web site: Wisconsin Herd Announces 2022-23 Opening Day Roster. OurSportsCentral.com. November 3, 2022. November 3, 2022.
  17. Web site: Luke. Adams. Bucks Sign, Waive Iverson Molinar. HoopsRumors.com. September 3, 2023. September 3, 2023.
  18. Web site: WISCONSIN HERD ANNOUNCE 2023 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER. NBA.com. October 30, 2023. December 9, 2023.
  19. Web site: WISCONSIN HERD RECEIVE RETURNING PLAYER RIGHTS TO THREE PLAYERS IN TRADE. NBA.com. December 8, 2023. December 9, 2023.
  20. Web site: 2023-2024 Ostioneros de Guaymas Transactions. RealGM.com. April 27, 2024.
  21. Web site: Iverson Molinar (PAN)'s profile - FIBA Americup 2017 . . January 13, 2021.
  22. Web site: Andrade . Jonathan . Iverson is the answer, too . The Acorn . January 13, 2021 . January 14, 2016.