Troy University Athletics
Victor Valdes Travels Abroad to Join Troy Men’s Basketball
5/3/2023 12:41:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. – A native of Monterrey Nuevo León, Mexico, Victor Valdes officially joined the 2023-24 roster for Troy men's basketball, head coach Scott Cross announced Wednesday morning.
"We are very excited about the addition of Victor Valdes to our basketball team," Cross said. "Victor currently plays in Spain for Zentro Basket Madrid. Victor is Mexico's version of a 6-6 Luka, as he can score inside and out and pass the ball as well as any college player I have ever seen. Victor will be a matchup nightmare for opposing teams, as he can play almost any position on the court. Trojan fans are in for a treat next season when they come to watch us play in Trojan Arena."
Standing 6-6, Valdes is coming off a spectacular season with Zentro Basket, where he played 30-plus minutes in 12 of the 24 games. In those 24 games, Valdes averaged 12.8 points on 52.3 percent shooting from the field. As a forward, he can stretch the floor, converting multiple threes in nine games on a 32.9 shooting percentage. Add a 69.8 percent at the charity stripe, and he can score on all levels.
The Mexico native is a utility tool with many attributes, averaging five rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 2022-23. His season-high of five steals came against Aridane on Feb 12. That same game, he scored 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and dished off six assists. His season high for points came on a 4-of-6 shooting performance as Valdes ended with 23 points.
While on Zentro Basket, Valdes competed in the World Cup Qualifier and FIBA Mexico national team. In 2023, Valdes played the United States in the World Cup Qualifier, ending with two points and a steal in five minutes. In 2021, Valdes competed in the Centrobasket U17 Championship, leading his team to a title appearance on 13.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 3.6 steals.
Valdes joins the 2023-24 roster alongside Tayton Conerway, Kerrington Kiel, Marcus Rigsby Jr., Theo Seng, Thomas Dowd, Jerrell Bellamy and Myles Rigsby.
"We are very excited about the addition of Victor Valdes to our basketball team," Cross said. "Victor currently plays in Spain for Zentro Basket Madrid. Victor is Mexico's version of a 6-6 Luka, as he can score inside and out and pass the ball as well as any college player I have ever seen. Victor will be a matchup nightmare for opposing teams, as he can play almost any position on the court. Trojan fans are in for a treat next season when they come to watch us play in Trojan Arena."
Standing 6-6, Valdes is coming off a spectacular season with Zentro Basket, where he played 30-plus minutes in 12 of the 24 games. In those 24 games, Valdes averaged 12.8 points on 52.3 percent shooting from the field. As a forward, he can stretch the floor, converting multiple threes in nine games on a 32.9 shooting percentage. Add a 69.8 percent at the charity stripe, and he can score on all levels.
The Mexico native is a utility tool with many attributes, averaging five rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 2022-23. His season-high of five steals came against Aridane on Feb 12. That same game, he scored 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and dished off six assists. His season high for points came on a 4-of-6 shooting performance as Valdes ended with 23 points.
While on Zentro Basket, Valdes competed in the World Cup Qualifier and FIBA Mexico national team. In 2023, Valdes played the United States in the World Cup Qualifier, ending with two points and a steal in five minutes. In 2021, Valdes competed in the Centrobasket U17 Championship, leading his team to a title appearance on 13.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 3.6 steals.
Valdes joins the 2023-24 roster alongside Tayton Conerway, Kerrington Kiel, Marcus Rigsby Jr., Theo Seng, Thomas Dowd, Jerrell Bellamy and Myles Rigsby.
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