Scott Bamforth

Bamforth was born on August 12, 1989, in Albuquerque, New Mexico,{{cite web|url=https://weberstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/scott-bamforth/2944|title=Scott Bamforth - Men's Basketball|publisher=Weber State Wildcats Athletics|access-date=November 13, 2024}} to John Bamforth and Elizabeth Vallejos.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/weber-states-scott-bamforth-overcomes-tough-times-to-break-damian-lillards-3-point-mark|title=Weber State's Scott Bamforth overcomes tough times to break Damian Lillard's 3-point mark|first=Anne|last=Peterson|date=March 26, 2013|work=Fox News|agency=Associated Press|access-date=November 13, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241113220710/https://www.foxnews.com/sports/weber-states-scott-bamforth-overcomes-tough-times-to-break-damian-lillards-3-point-mark|archive-date=November 13, 2024|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/albuquerque-journal-elizabeth-a-vallejo/143826303/|title=Elizabeth A. Vallejos Bamforth|work=Albuquerque Journal|date=January 1, 2005|access-date=November 13, 2024|page=D9|via=Newspapers.com}} He is of Mexican descent through his mother. After his father died of a heart attack when he was 12 years old in 2002, Bamforth was left to care for his ill mother, often missing school to tend to her daily needs. "I pretty much stopped going to school," he said. "It was take care of my mom and go to practice and that was about it." She eventually moved to Hatch, New Mexico, about three hours away to live with her mother, leaving Bamforth alone in Albuquerque. She later died of liver damage in December 2004, and Bamforth moved in with a friend of the family.

Bamforth attended Del Norte High School in Albuquerque, where he starred on the basketball team. As a junior, he led the Knights to a No. 1 seed in the class 4A state tournament, as well as their first-ever appearance in the state championship game,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/albuquerque-journal/159008641/|title=Knights, Coyotes favored|work=Albuquerque Journal|first=Glen|last=Rosales|date=March 8, 2006|access-date=November 13, 2024|page=C3|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican/159008833/|title=No. 3 St. Pius' 21-year final drought over|first=Tim|last=Korte|work=The Santa Fe New Mexican|date=March 10, 2006|access-date=November 13, 2024|page=B5|via=Newspapers.com}} where he scored 15 points in a loss to district rival St. Pius X.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican/159009315/|title=Sartans best District 5AAAA rival, end title drought|first=James|last=Barron|work=The Santa Fe New Mexican|date=March 12, 2006|access-date=November 13, 2024|page=B4|via=Newspapers.com}} Bamforth earned first-team all-state honors after guiding the team to a school-record 23 wins.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-cibolas-big-ma/159011908/|title=Cibola's big man anchors AAAAA All-State team|first=Pete|last=Herrera|work=The Santa Fe New Mexican|date=April 9, 2006|access-date=November 13, 2024|page=B5|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/albuquerque-journal/159012081/|title=A Knight Owl Shall Guide Them|first=Will|last=Webber|work=Albuquerque Journal|date=March 7, 2007|access-date=November 13, 2024|page=C1|via=Newspapers.com}}

Bamforth served as team captain as a senior, once again leading the Knights to the No. 1 seed in the class 4A state tournament, though they were upset in the quarterfinals by Capital High School.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican/159020410/|title=Jaguars settle the score|first=James|last=Barron|work=The Santa Fe New Mexican|date=March 8, 2007|access-date=November 13, 2024|page=B1|via=Newspapers.com}} He averaged 23.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/albuquerque-journal/159020593/|title=All-Metro Basketball Team '06-07|work=Albuquerque Journal|date=April 8, 2007|access-date=November 13, 2024|page=30|via=Newspapers.com}} earning first-team all-state honors and an invitation to the New Mexico North-South All-Star Game, where he scored 17 points.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/albuquerque-journal/159020703/|title=Taylor, Spence Top Team|first=Pete|last=Herrera|work=Albuquerque Journal|date=March 23, 2007|access-date=November 14, 2024|page=D2|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/albuquerque-journal/159020776/|title=Shooting Stars (II)|first=Will|last=Webber|work=Albuquerque Journal|date=August 3, 2007|access-date=November 14, 2024|page=D2|via=Newspapers.com}}

Bamforth left Del Norte as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,259 points,{{cite news|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/sports/preps/prep-basketball-la-cueva-overcomes-del-norte-and-its-shooting-star/article_facc7e7b-2282-57f5-af34-91a332439bc8.html|title=Prep basketball: La Cueva overcomes Del Norte and its shooting star|work=Albuquerque Journal|first=James|last=Yodice|date=December 20, 2022|access-date=November 13, 2024}}{{efn |Bamforth's scoring record was surpassed by Shane Douma-Sanchez in 2022. }} as well as the leader in both three-point and free throw shooting percentage. However, he was not recruited by any NCAA Division I programs and instead walked on at Western Nebraska Community College, a junior college in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

Bamforth was redshirted at Western Nebraska Community College for the 2007–08 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald/158998894/|title=WNCC's Bamforth inks with Division I Weber St. (II)|work=Star-Herald|date=November 15, 2009|access-date=November 13, 2024|page=2E|via=Newspapers.com}} "I am very happy I didn't play my first year," he later said. "It was hard not playing, and it was the first time that I didn't play in a season. But it was good because I learned a lot of things." In his first season in 2008–09, Bamforth hit 88 three-pointers and averaged 18.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, earning all-NJCAA Region 9 honors.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald/158997483/|title=WNCC enjoyed steady progress this year (II)|work=Star-Herald|date=March 27, 2009|access-date=November 13, 2024|page=3B|via=Newspapers.com}} The following year, he was named a preseason third-team NJCAA All-American. However, Bamforth suffered a dislocated elbow in the fifth game of the season,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald/159004474/|title=WNCC men roll to big win over Air Force All-Stars|work=Star-Herald|date=November 15, 2009|access-date=November 13, 2024|page=2E|via=Newspapers.com}} forcing him to miss the rest of the season. He transferred to Weber State, signing his National Letter of Intent in November 2009.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald/158998419/|title=WNCC's Bamforth inks with Division I Weber St. (I)|work=Star-Herald|date=November 15, 2009|access-date=November 13, 2024|page=1E|via=Newspapers.com}}

{{quote box|width=30em|bgcolor=#F2F2F2|align=right|quote=I signed there because I think it is the perfect fit for me. I am really excited because it has always been a goal to play Division I. That is why you come to junior college — to get that chance. I was lucky enough to get it.|source= — Bamforth after signing with Weber State in November 2009.}}

Despite tearing his labrum during the first week of his sophomore season with Weber State, Bamforth ranked fourth in the nation with a 48.8 three-point shooting percentage, earning Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year honors.

Bamforth played in 99 games overall for the Wildcats, with career averages of 13.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He finished 11th in scoring in school history. He earned all-conference honors each season, and set a school record with 259 career made 3-pointers,{{cite news|url=http://www.wsusignpost.com/2013/06/23/marcs-remarks-3-pointer-the-new-layup/|title=Marc's Remarks: 3-pointer, the new layup|first=Marc|last=Jensen|date=June 23, 2013|work=The Signpost|access-date=September 25, 2015}} as well as the single-season record of 103.{{cite news|url=http://www.standard.net/Sports/2014/06/12/Former-Wildcat-Bamforth-breaks-barriers|title=Former Wildcat Bamforth continues playing overseas|first=Brandon|last=Garside|date=June 12, 2014|work=Standard-Examiner|access-date=September 25, 2015}} Both records were previously owned by Damian Lillard.

In March 2013, he was named to the Weber State Men's Basketball 50th Anniversary Team, as one of the school's best 50 players in its history.{{cite press release|url=https://www.nmnathletics.com//pdf9/1607485.pdf?ATCLID=206698560&SPSID=39376&SPID=3470&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=8600|title=Weber State Men's Basketball 50th Anniversary Team|date=March 9, 2013|publisher=Weber State Athletics|access-date=September 25, 2013}}

Bamforth signed with Spanish team Baloncesto Sevilla in August 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.solobasket.com/liga-endesa/cajasol-sevilla-oficial-el-francotirador-scott-bamforth-y-punto-marcos-mata|title=Cajasol Sevilla: oficial el francotirador Scott Bamforth y a punto Marcos Mata|language=es|first=Gonzalo|last=Bedía Diaz|date=August 10, 2013|work=Solobasket|access-date=September 25, 2015}} He averaged 10.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in 37 games.

In August 2014, Bamforth signed with UCAM Murcia on a one-year contract,{{cite news|url=http://noticias.lainformacion.com/deporte/asociacion-nacional-de-baloncesto-profesional-estadounidense/el-ucam-ficha-al-escolta-estadounidense-scott-bamforth-del-cajasol-sevilla_fCo8j2SYv6eZKMDNImY345/|title=El UCAM ficha al escolta estadounidense Scott Bamforth, del Cajasol Sevilla|language=es|date=August 5, 2014|work=La Información|access-date=September 25, 2015}} and went on to average 8.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in 29 games.

Bamforth rejected an offer from Baloncesto Fuenlabrada,{{cite news|url=http://www.gigantes.com/bamforth-rechaza-la-oferta-del-fuenlabrada-seguira-en-la-liga-endesa/|title=Bamforth rechaza la oferta del Fuenlabrada. ¿Seguirá en la Liga Endesa?|language=Spanish|date=August 6, 2015|work=Gigantes del Basket|access-date=September 25, 2015}} and instead returned to Baloncesto Sevilla in August 2015 on a two-year contract.{{cite news|url=http://elcorreoweb.es/tras-scott-bamforth-tal-vez-una-gran-sorpresa-nachbar-MF676916|title=Tras Scott Bamforth, tal vez una gran sorpresa: Nachbar|language=es|date=August 17, 2015|work=El Decano Deportivo|access-date=September 25, 2015}}

Bamforth signed for Le Mans Sarthe Basket of the French LNB Pro A for a one-year contract on June 22, 2020.{{cite news |title=Scott Bamforth firma in Francia con Le Mans |url=https://sportando.basketball/scott-bamforth-firma-in-francia-con-le-mans/ |website=Sportando |access-date=June 22, 2020 |language=Italian |date=June 22, 2020|last1=Maggi |first1=Alessandro }} He averaged 15.8 points and 3.6 assists per game. Bamforth re-signed with Le Mans Sarthe on June 24, 2021.{{cite news |title=Scott Bamforth re-signs with Le Mans |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/scott-bamforth-re-signs-with-le-mans/ |website=Sportando |access-date=June 25, 2021 |date=June 24, 2021|last1=Skerletic |first1=Dario }} He won the LNB Pro A Three-point Contest in December after filling in for an injured Nicolas Lang, scoring 24 points in the final round to beat Brandon Jefferson for the title.{{cite news|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/sport/basket/basket-all-star-game-scott-bamforth-le-mans-ecrase-le-concours-a-3-points-e3a66d48-6945-11ec-99d3-75f69f727f74|title=Vidéo. Scott Bamforth (Le Mans) écrase le concours à 3 points du All Star Game|work=Ouest-France|date=December 30, 2021|access-date=November 14, 2024|language=fr}}{{cite news|url=https://www.basketeurope.com/all-star-game-scott-bamforth-le-mans-domine-le-concours-de-shoots-a-trois-points/|title=All-Star Game: Scott Bamforth (Le Mans) dominates the three-point shooting contest|work=BasketEurope.com|first=Pascal|last=Legendre|date=December 29, 2021|access-date=November 14, 2024}}

Bamforth signed with Rio Breogán of the Spanish Liga ACB on August 2, 2022.{{cite news |title=Rio Breogan announces signing of Scott Bamforth |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/rio-breogan-announces-signing-of-scott-bamforth/ |website=Sportando |access-date=August 2, 2022 |date=August 2, 2022 }}

On July 17, 2023, he signed with Victoria Libertas Pesaro of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).{{Cite web|url=https://www.victorialibertas.it/la-carpegna-prosciutto-basket-pesaro-firma-scott-bamforth/|title=La Carpegna Prosciutto Basket Pesaro firma Scott Bamforth!|last=|first=|date=July 17, 2023|website=victorialibertas.it|publisher=|language=it|access-date=July 30, 2023}}

On April 14, 2024, he signed with Covirán Granada of the Liga ACB.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ahoragranada.com/noticias/scott-bamforth-refuerzo-del-coviran-granada-para-el-momento-decisivo/|title=Scott Bamforth, refuerzo del Covirán Granada para el momento decisivo|last=|first=|date=April 14, 2024|website=ahoragranada.com|publisher=|language=es|access-date=March 13, 2025}}

In the summers of 2016 and 2017, Bamforth played in The Basketball Tournament on ESPN for The Wasatch Front (Weber State Alumni). He competed for the $2 million prize in 2017, and for The Wasatch Front, he scored 27 points in their first round loss to Team Challenge ALS 97–81.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetournament.com/bracket|title=Bracket {{!}} The Basketball Tournament|website=www.thetournament.com|access-date=2018-02-27}}

For the 2022 tournament, Bamforth joined The Enchantment, a team consisting mostly of former New Mexico Lobos players. Despite being the only non-Lobo alumni on the team, he was the only player originally from New Mexico.

Bamforth met his wife, Kendra, during their time at Western Nebraska Community College. She had his first son in November 2011, named Kingzton. However, Kendrea was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, which required an emergency C section 34 weeks into the pregnancy. When Kingzton was born, he stopped breathing and turned blue. Doctors had to resuscitate the newborn. "I thought they both pretty much were going to die because that's what they told me from the start could happen. It seemed like forever," he later said. They both survived, and in the following game against Northern New Mexico, he made five three-pointers and then made seven in a career-best 28 point performance against Utah State four days after that. The couple had two more sons: Jaxzton and Bryzton.

Bamforth has continued his friendship with former college teammate Damian Lillard.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/19/sports/damian-lillard-trail-blazers-lakers-nba.html|title=Damian Lillard Thrives in the Bubble|work=The New York Times|first=Scott|last=Cacciola|date=August 19, 2020|access-date=November 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819121555/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/19/sports/damian-lillard-trail-blazers-lakers-nba.html|archive-date=August 19, 2020|url-status=live}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=H22 Liga ACB bio]
• [https://weberstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/scott-bamforth/2944 Weber State bio]
• [http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Scott_Bamforth/209820 Eurobasket bio]

{{Fundación CB Granada current roster}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bamforth, Scott}}

Category:1989 births

Category:Living people

Category:American expatriate basketball people in France

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Spain

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:American sportspeople of Mexican descent

Category:Basketball players from Albuquerque, New Mexico

Category:Bilbao Basket players

Category:CB Breogán players

Category:CB Murcia players

Category:Dinamo Sassari players

Category:Fundación CB Granada players

Category:KK Budućnost players

Category:Kosovan expatriate basketball people in France

Category:Kosovan expatriate basketball people in Italy

Category:Kosovan expatriate basketball people in Spain

Category:Kosovan men's basketball players

Category:Kosovan people of American descent

Category:Le Mans Sarthe Basket players

Category:Lega Basket Serie A players

Category:Liga ACB players

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Category:Naturalised citizens of Kosovo

Category:Real Betis Baloncesto players

Category:Shooting guards

Category:Victoria Libertas Pallacanestro players

Category:Weber State Wildcats men's basketball players

Category:Western Nebraska Cougars men's basketball players