RamWire: Anthony Masinton-Bonner -- It's In the Name

When fans of Colorado State basketball arrived for the opening exhibition game, they saw several new names on the roster for the 2018-19 Rams. However, one of those "new" names was attached to a very familiar face – Anthony Masinton-Bonner. Known to many as "AB" in his time in Fort Collins, the importance of his family and its heritage is one of the biggest parts of the man he is today.

"Family is really important to me," Anthony said. "That's the base around my life, the foundation of my life."

"My great grandfather – Antonio Masintonio – came here from Italy," Anthony's mother Carolyn Masinton said. "He changed his name to Masinton, because when they came through Ellis Island, the immigrants were encouraged to Americanize their names. So he became Masinton, thus we're all Masintons and I think that we might be the only Masintons. I've never found any Masinton that's not related to us."

His parents have always maintained their separate last names throughout their marriage, as Sebastian Bonner and Carolyn have been happily married for more than 25 years. Anthony's birth certificate included his full legal name. However those around and following CSU have known him just as Anthony Bonner for his first three years in the program, a fact his mom had just gotten used to over the years from basketball.

"It seems like something really simple and it is something really simple for us because we're used to all of our kids having both of our names," Carolyn said. "But then again we had gotten used to him being Bonner all the time."

And that came from the basketball circles growing up, as he spent many of his early years playing for his father Sebastian. And while that had its benefits, for anyone who has ever coached their child or been coached by their parent in a sport they love, many times it is harder and more challenging than playing for anyone else, both on the floor and at home.

"Just because I was the coach's son, if I wasn't doing my job, he would take me out of the game and bench me," Anthony said. "So he was never giving anything to me easy. It was cool and fun playing for my dad, but it also built me tougher."

"We went through some rough patches, but it was best for me," Anthony continued. "It was probably me being a hard head most of the time. Our relationship has revolved a lot around basketball, but it goes way past that. I can't say there has been anyone else in my life that has been in that gym more for me. When I go home for summers, he still rebounds for me, making me get in the gym with him. I'm very, very grateful for that relationship I have with him, spending all those years playing together, winning games together."

Over his younger years and through his collegiate career, Anthony built a reputation as that hard-nosed, determined player who was destined for more. Summer and travel teams continued to ask him to join their programs. An eventual transition to a club team in Kansas City an hour away from his home in Lawrence, Kan., didn't change how he was known in hoops but did lead to a new growth in the relationship with his mom.

"Anthony and I were in and out of Kansas City two, three, four days a week," Carolyn said. "He would get out of school and we'd hit the road, go get something to eat, go to practice. You know, that was our time together. We were just 'road dogs'."

Following last season and some reflection and talks with family, Anthony inquired about changing his name on his jersey to his full, hyphenated last name. He wanted to honor his family and his heritage and during the summer break, he got the word that he was going to be able to do that for this season.

"I can't remember what it was that hit me, tipped me off to do it," Anthony said. "But I think it was my grandpa telling me there has never been a Masinton in college basketball and I just thought about how happy it would make him and my mom and that side of the family."

"When I got to break the news to my mom, I just couldn't stop smiling because just the joy in her voice," Anthony added. "It was really nice to see how happy she was."

"When he switched to Masinton-Bonner and said it was to honor the family and my name and my dad, I was like 'aww, that's so sweet'," Carolyn said. "And anyone who knows me knows that I can cry very easily, and so I got a little bit of a tear."

Now with a unique name in the world of college basketball, Anthony has made the most of it. He is currently third on the team in scoring this season and has been one of the league leaders in shooting percentages. With that, it also gives Patrick Krza, the men's basketball PA announcer, the chance to say "A-M-B for 3," a phrase that has caught on with Ram fans and the team. But the dedication to and pride that Anthony has in his family is what makes the difference to him and evokes deeper feelings in Carolyn every time she steps in Moby.

"I think it's pretty cool to be the only one representing that name," Anthony said. "Also just being the first from my family to carry that name through college basketball. So I just feel like I have to make them proud and that's my main mission. I want to make my family proud and happy and just have fun out there playing the game I love. I feel like I owe them my best effort and attitude every time I step out there. I'm really blessed and lucky. I feel like I have one of the coolest families in the world. I'm extremely grateful for them."

"Being able to come here and spend time with him and watch the games – it's just such a wonderful experience,' Carolyn concluded. "Hearing the announcers say Masinton-Bonner instead of Bonner is really cool."

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