L. J. Figueroa

Lionel Jr. "L. J." Figueroa Mercado (born March 28, 1998) is a Dominican and American professional basketball player for Ratiopharm Ulm of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) and the EuroCup. He played college basketball for the Odessa Wranglers, the St. John's Red Storm, and the Oregon Ducks.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Figueroa and the second or maternal family name is Mercado.
L. J. Figueroa
L. J. Figueroa with Ulm in 2023
No. 30 – Ratiopharm Ulm
PositionSmall forward
LeagueBasketball Bundesliga
EuroCup
Personal information
Born (1998-03-28) March 28, 1998
Lawrence, Massachusetts, U.S.
NationalityAmerican / Dominican
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021Leones de Santo Domingo
2021–2022Santa Cruz Warriors
2022–2023South Bay Lakers
2023Grises de Humacao
2023–presentratiopharm ulm
Career highlights and awards
  • LNB champion (2021)
  • First-team NJCAA DI All-American (2018)
  • WJCAC Player of the Year (2018)
  • All-WJCAC Team (2018)
  • WJCAC Freshman of the Year (2018)
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

High school career

As a freshman, Figueroa played basketball for Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts. For his sophomore season, he transferred to Lawrence High School in Lawrence to seek better competition but was relegated to junior varsity. He then transferred to Oldsmar Christian School in Oldsmar, Florida, where he repeated his sophomore year and grew four inches (10 cm).[1] Figueroa was drawn there by coach Alex Arias.[2] For his senior season, he moved to West Oaks Academy in Orlando, Florida.[3] Figueroa was a four-star recruit and committed to play college basketball for New Mexico State over offers from Florida, Miami (Florida) and Louisville, among others.[4]

College career

Before playing a game for New Mexico State, Figueroa left the program due to a coaching change. He played for Odessa College during his freshman season.[5] Figueroa averaged 21.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, while shooting 48.2 percent from three-point range, and earned First Team National Junior College Athletic Association Division I All-American honors.[6][7] He was also named Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.[8]

For his sophomore season, Figueroa transferred to St. John's.[7] On November 27, 2018, he scored a sophomore season-high 25 points and collected 13 rebounds in an 85–64 win against Maryland Eastern Shore.[9] As a sophomore, Figueroa averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. He entered the transfer portal following the departure of coach Chris Mullin before returning to St. John's.[10] On January 25, 2020, Figueroa scored a junior season-high 28 points with seven three-pointers in a 79–66 win over DePaul.[11] As a junior, he averaged 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and a Big East-leading 1.9 steals per game.[12] However, Figueroa struggled with his shooting under new coach Mike Anderson, making 37.9 percent of his attempts from the floor.[13]

After initially declaring for the 2020 NBA draft, Figueroa decided to return to college and transfer to Oregon for his senior season.[14] He was granted a waiver for immediate eligibility on December 3.[15] As a senior, Figueroa averaged 12.3 points and a team-high 6.1 rebounds per game, while finishing third on the team with 41 steals. Following the season, he opted to turn professional rather than take advantage of the additional season of eligibility the NCAA granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16]

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Figueroa joined the Dallas Mavericks for NBA Summer League play.[17]

Leones de Santo Domingo (2021)

In August, he signed with Leones de Santo Domingo of the Dominican Liga Nacional de Baloncesto,[18] helping them win the LNB Championship.[19]

Santa Cruz Warriors (2021–2022)

On October 13, 2021, Figueroa signed with the Golden State Warriors.[20] However, he was waived three days later.[21] In October 2021, Figueroa joined the Santa Cruz Warriors as an affiliate player.[22] On January 10, 2022, he had 17 points and 13 rebounds and hit the game-winning basket at the buzzer in a 132–130 overtime win over the Memphis Hustle.[23]

South Bay Lakers (2022–2023)

On October 8, 2022, Figueroa signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.[24] He was waived two days later.[25]

On October 22, 2022, Figueroa joined the South Bay Lakers training camp roster.[26]

Grises de Humacao (2023)

On April 2, 2023, Figueroa signed with Grises de Humacao of the Puerto Rican league.[27]

ratiopharm Ulm (2023–present)

On July 27, 2023, Figueroa signed with ratiopharm Ulm of the Basketball Bundesliga.[28]

National team career

Figueroa represented the Dominican Republic at the 2016 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship, averaging 14.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.[29] He played for the Dominican Republic at the 2019 Pan American Games.[30]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NCAA Division I
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 St. John's 343232.0.513.383.6276.41.71.8.214.4
2019–20 St. John's 323228.3.379.365.6634.52.11.9.514.5
2020–21 Oregon 262131.3.467.377.6676.11.41.6.312.3
Career 928530.5.449.374.6515.61.81.8.313.9

JUCO
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Odessa 333224.2.555.482.7265.53.71.2.421.4

Personal life

Figueroa is the son of Leo Figueroa and Gleny Mercado. His mother played volleyball for Florida Memorial College.[1]

References
  1. Muldoon, Michael (August 16, 2015). "L.J. Figueroa: From Lawrence benchwarmer to Florida All-American". The Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  2. Braziller, Zach (March 19, 2019). "'I wanted more for myself': St. John's star's leap of faith pays off". New York Post. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  3. Bensley, Alex (February 21, 2019). "Lawrence's LJ Figueroa emerging as a shooting star at St. John's University". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  4. Rudi, Mark (November 15, 2016). "Top 100 recruit L.J. Figueroa commits to New Mexico State". Las Cruces Sun-News. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  5. Sturm, Taylor (May 31, 2017). "L.J. Figueroa: Four-star college basketball recruit going JUCO, not New Mexico State". Busting Brackets. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  6. Muldoon, Michael (May 13, 2018). "Under the Lights: L.J. Figueroa the new King of Queens". The Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  7. "St. John's Signs LJ Figueroa". St. John's University Athletics. April 21, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  8. "WJCAC All-Conference Basketball". NJCAA Region 5. March 12, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  9. "St. John's beats Maryland-Eastern Shore 85–64". ESPN. Associated Press. November 27, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  10. Phillips, Scott (May 15, 2019). "LJ Figueroa staying at St. John's". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  11. "Figueroa lifts St. John's over DePaul 79–66". USA Today. Associated Press. January 25, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  12. Rubin, Roger (May 26, 2020). "St. John's Figueroa enters transfer portal". Newsday. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  13. Braziller, Zach (May 27, 2020). "The reality of LJ Figueroa's separation from St. John's". New York Post. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  14. "St. John's wing LJ Figueroa transferring to Oregon". ESPN. June 21, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  15. Crepea, James (December 3, 2020). "LJ Figueroa granted eligibility waiver from NCAA, can play for Oregon Ducks against Seton Hall". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  16. Hansen, Chris (April 20, 2021). "Oregon men's basketball's LJ Figueroa moving on to a pro career". The Register-Guard. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  17. Mack, Jared (August 18, 2021). "Ducks flourish as NBA Summer League comes to an end". 247 Sports. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  18. "L.J. Figueroa debutará este martes con los Leones de Santo Domingo". Listin Diario (in Spanish). August 30, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  19. "Los Leones de Santo Domingo se proclamaron campeones de la LNB tras derrotar a los Titanes". Proceso.com.do (in Spanish). October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  20. "Warriors Sign L.J. Figueroa". NBA.com. October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  21. "Warriors Waive L.J. Figueroa and Axel Toupane". NBA.com. October 16, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  22. Seimas, Jim (October 26, 2021). "Santa Cruz Warriors reveal training camp roster NBA G League". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  23. Seimas, Jim (January 10, 2022). "LJ Figueroa's buzzer-beater lifts Santa Cruz in OT". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  24. "Lakers Sign LJ Figueroa and Shaquille Harrison". NBA.com. October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  25. @Lakers (October 10, 2022). "The Lakers have signed guard Bryce Hamilton and requested waivers on guard LJ Figueroa" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. "South Bay Lakers Announce 2022-23 Training Camp Roster Featuring Cole Swider & Scotty Pippen Jr". lakersnation.com. October 22, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  27. La Guerra del BSN [@LaGuerraBSN] (April 2, 2023). "[OFICIAL]: El delantero LJ Figueroa es el nuevo refuerzo de los Grises de Humacao en sustitución de Janis Timma" (Tweet). Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Twitter.
  28. "Ulm inks athletic forward L.J. Figueroa". Sportando. July 27, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  29. "Lionel Figueroa's profile – 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men". FIBA. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  30. "LJ Figueroa Selected to Represent Dominican Republic at Pan Am Games". St. John's University Athletics. June 28, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
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