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Lonny Baxter

Lonny Leroy Baxter (born January 27, 1979) is an former professional player known primarily for his standout college career at the University of Maryland, where he contributed to the Terrapins' 2002 NCAA Division I championship as a bruising /. Standing 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighing around 260 pounds during his playing days, Baxter averaged 14.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game over three seasons at , earning two-time NCAA West Regional Most Outstanding Player honors in 2001 and 2002 while ranking second in program history for rebounding. Selected in the second round (44th overall) of the by the , he played sparingly across four seasons for six teams—including the Bulls, , New Orleans Hornets, , and Charlotte Bobcats—appearing in 162 regular-season games with career averages of 3.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.4 blocks per game at a 46.6% . Baxter's post-NBA career extended to professional leagues in and elsewhere, but it was repeatedly disrupted by legal troubles involving , including a 2004 incident of firing shots in , and a 2006 arrest near the after gunshots from his vehicle, which resulted in a 60-day jail sentence for illegal shipping and possession; these events led to contract terminations, such as with a team in 2007. In recognition of his collegiate impact, Baxter was inducted into the University of Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024 as the 10th player in NCAA history to win consecutive regional awards.

Early life

High school career

Baxter, a native of Silver Spring, Maryland, initially attended Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Maryland, before transferring to Anacostia High School in Washington, D.C. During his senior year at Anacostia in 1997, Baxter contributed significantly to the team's success, scoring 20 points in the championship final to secure a victory over Bullis School. He also participated in the Capital All-Star game as a representative of the team. Despite his on-court performance, Baxter faced ongoing academic challenges following his Anacostia graduation, prompting him to enroll in a postgraduate program at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia, for the 1997–98 season. At Hargrave, a noted prep basketball powerhouse, Baxter played alongside Korleone Young, a prior NBA draftee, which helped elevate his recruiting visibility as a 6-foot-8 power forward entering the class of 1998. This stint addressed his eligibility concerns and positioned him for college recruitment by programs including the University of Maryland.

College career

Freshman and sophomore years

Baxter joined the as a in the 1998–99 season, appearing in 32 games with 10 starts, averaging 6.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.8 minutes per game while shooting 59.9% from the field and 57.3% from the free-throw line. He earned honorable mention All-ACC freshman team recognition for his contributions off the bench and late-season starting role. A highlight came on December 26, 1998, when Baxter went 10-for-10 from the field for all 20 of his points in a game, breaking Maryland's single-game record for perfect field-goal makes previously set at eight. During his sophomore year in 1999–2000, Baxter transitioned to a full-time starter, playing all 35 games and averaging 15.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 27.7 minutes per game on 53.3% field-goal shooting. His development as an interior scorer and rebounder earned him first-team All-ACC honors, alongside teammate . Early in the season, Baxter posted double-doubles, including 17.6 points and 10.3 rebounds over the first three games, helping establish Maryland's frontcourt presence.

Junior and senior years

In his junior season during the 2000–01 campaign, Baxter averaged 15.6 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game while shooting 56.6 percent from the field, leading the Terrapins in field-goal percentage. He earned second-team All-ACC honors and second-team All-ACC recognition. Baxter was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA West Regional, becoming the 10th player in NCAA history to win consecutive regional MVP awards the following year, as advanced to the before losing to . His national ranking of 24th in field-goal percentage underscored his efficiency as an interior scorer and rebounder. As a senior in 2001–02, Baxter posted averages of 15.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, serving as the team's leading rebounder and second-leading scorer en route to a 32–4 record. He repeated as second-team All-ACC selection and earned first-team All-American honors from the , while again leading in field-goal percentage. Baxter contributed to the Terrapins' NCAA championship victory on April 1, 2002, defeating 79–73 in the final; he was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team and East Regional , capping his college career with a school-record performance of 10-for-10 field goals in a single game.

Professional career

NBA career

Baxter was selected by the in the second round of the , 44th overall. He signed a multi-year with the Bulls on September 30, 2002. During the 2002–03 season, his rookie year, Baxter played in 55 games, primarily off the bench as a and . On December 1, 2003, Baxter was traded to the . He appeared in 36 games for Toronto during the 2003–04 season before being waived. The claimed him off waivers on February 29, 2004, where he played 12 games to close out the season. In the 2004–05 season, Baxter joined the New Orleans Hornets, logging just 4 games. Baxter signed with the for the 2005–06 season, playing 23 games before being traded to the Bobcats on February 9, 2006, for . He finished the season with the Bobcats in 18 games, with his final NBA appearance on April 19, 2006, against the . Over 162 regular-season games across six teams from 2002 to 2006, Baxter averaged 3.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 46.6% field goal shooting, and 65.7% free throw shooting per game, with no playoff appearances. His career high was 19 points, scored in a single game.

Overseas career

Baxter began his overseas professional during the 2004–05 season with Panathinaikos in the Greek Basket League, where he contributed to the team's Greek National Championship win and the Greek National Cup victory. Following limited NBA appearances, he signed with Mens Sana Basket Siena (Montepaschi ) of Italy's on August 8, 2006, playing 35 games in the 2006–07 season and averaging approximately 8 points and 4 rebounds per game while helping secure the Italian National Championship. In the 2007–08 season, Baxter split time between Joventut Badalona in Spain's Liga ACB, appearing in 9 games with minimal production (about 2 points per game), and Panionios BC in Greece's top league. He continued with Panionios in 2008–09, logging 8 EuroLeague games for 88 points and 46 rebounds. The following year, 2009–10, Baxter joined Beşiktaş in Turkey's Basketbol Süper Ligi, where he played 19 domestic games for 331 points and 110 rebounds, plus 8 EuroCup contests. Baxter moved to for the 2010–11 season with Enisey Krasnoyarsk, delivering a standout performance with 35 games, 558 points, and 241 rebounds in the Russian Super League. He returned to Enisey in 2011–12, playing across Russian, , and competitions for combined totals including 13 Russian league games (137 points, 78 rebounds) and 16 VTB games (169 points, 82 rebounds). His final documented professional stint came in 2013 with Guaiqueries de Margarita in Venezuela's Superior Profesional de Baloncesto, appearing in 11 games for 132 points and 62 rebounds. Across his international club career from 2004–05 to 2009–10 in major , Baxter accumulated 1,062 points and 614 rebounds in 149 regular-season games, per aggregated statistics.

Legal issues

Firearm incidents and convictions

In July 2004, Baxter was arrested in , after his accidentally discharged inside his condominium on NW, with the bullet shattering a neighbor's across the street. He faced charges related to possession of an unregistered and received a sentence of nine months' . On July 4, 2006, Baxter shipped three handguns—including two Glocks—and one rifle from Houston, Texas, to College Park, Maryland, via Federal Express without declaring the firearms as required by federal law. He pleaded guilty to this federal felony charge on July 19, 2007, marking his third gun-related conviction in four years. On August 31, 2007, U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte sentenced him to 60 days in jail, two years of supervised release, a $2,000 fine, and a lifetime prohibition on possessing firearms. On August 16, 2006, Baxter was arrested by the U.S. in , after witnesses reported gunfire from his white a few blocks from the ; one of the undeclared pistols from the prior shipment was found loaded in the vehicle's console and had been fired into the air. His passenger, Francis Irvin Martin, was also charged. Baxter, then 27, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of carrying a pistol without a and related firearms offenses. On August 23, 2006, D.C. Judge Craig Iscoe sentenced him to nine months in jail, suspending all but 60 days, imposed an additional $2,000 fine plus court costs, and placed him on 18 months' probation. During sentencing, the judge referenced Baxter's 2004 firearms offense as a factor.

Legacy and post-career honors

Awards and recognitions

Baxter earned multiple honors during his college career at the University of , including selection to the All-ACC first team as a in 2000 and second team as a junior in 2001 and senior in 2002, making him one of only 15 Terrapins players to receive All-ACC recognition three times. He was also named a 2002 Wooden Award All-American. In the postseason, Baxter contributed to Maryland's 2002 NCAA championship, earning East Regional most outstanding player honors in both 2001 and 2002, along with a spot on the 2002 All-Tournament team. In his professional career overseas, Baxter won the Italian championship with Montepaschi in the 2006–07 season. He later received Russian Professional Basketball League All-Symbolic Second Team recognition in 2011 while playing for Yenisey Krasnoyarsk. Baxter was inducted into the University of Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2024.

References

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