Rising star Anton Bonke leads Charlotte 49ers to new heights

CHARLOTTE (CAROLINA SPORTS LIVE) — It has been quite a journey for Charlotte 49ers Junior Forward Anton Bonke.

As for where he grew up…strong chance you haven’t heard of it. Port Vila, the capital city of the small island country, Vanuatu, which is located east of Northern Australia.

His collegiate career has been a winding one with three different stops in three years.

Starting out west at Eastern Arizona College to the East Coast, where he dipped his toes into the Division 1 ranks, playing a year at Providence in Rhode Island. Then, after a year with the Friars, Bonke is now in Charlotte, calling Halton Area his home…for now, as #49 is helping lead the Niners to new heights this year.

In his native country, Bonke grew up playing handball, a sport relatively similar to the one he’s playing now. But when he was first introduced to basketball, it came as anything but easy.

As his 7’2 frame filled out, so did his game. Spending his sophomore season in Providence before Aaron Fearne and Charlotte came calling, plugging a big hole in its frontcourt.

The chance taken has paid off for the surging Charlotte club.

Bonke sits third on the team in scoring and fourth in the American Conference in rebounding. Because of it, you’ve got a Charlotte team very much in the thick of the league race with a month to go.

With the big man in the middle, holding things down.

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