MidValleySports.Com

Johnathan Maldonado (center) with Arcadia head basketball coach Nick Wallace (left) and head football coach Eric Elias (right).

By Tim Peterson

(Arcadia) – Arcadia’s Johnathan Maldonado, who will now play football at Ole Miss, returned to the school Saturday to make a donation to the football and basketball programs.

Maldonado, who played both sports at Arcadia and graduated in 2022, spent four years at Nevada playing football before moving on to Ole Miss where he will play this fall. Maldonado was introduced by Arcadia head basketball coach Nick Wallace Saturday and the presentation was made before an Apaches’ summer league game.

Johnathan Maldonado (Center) with the Arcadia basketball team. Basketball coach Nick Wallace (left) and football coach Eric Elias (right).

”It means the world to me. Obviously, the character I was able to build here in four years, I would not be able to get to the spot I’m at today without Arcadia and the community here. The person I was able to become with the help of coaches and the support staff and everybody around here…just the whole community. I needed that for my journey,” Maldonado said. “I truly believe that. God has a way of working and obviously I’m at a spot now where I can give back to the community. So to me it means everything.”

Wallace was grateful to introduce his former player.

“He’s a great kid. I love him and I’m thankful for his huge donation to Arcadia basketball and football,” Wallace said.