Camron Donatlan has been an outstanding athlete in three sports and in five schools, including West Aurora High School. The 2018 West Aurora graduate has followed his dreams. Success started in high school football as a return man and hard runner, a seven-foot high jumper, and an all-around basketball player as a 6-3 guard/forward.
Tuesday this week he received an award as a part of a Night of Culture and Champions at the Aurora City Council. . His championship avenue was through undefeated South Suburban College in South Holland and as the State champion in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
South Suburban College was 27-0 in the regular season concluded last month and won six tournament games on the way to the State championship for 33-0 season record, including a 74-73 victory against Waubonsee of Sugar Grove in the tournament countdown.
What school will be his next stop? He played in four states at four colleges. The Voice columnist Bobby Narang wrote about Camron Donatlan’s exploits in the March 3 edition of The Voice:
“Aurora native Camron Donatlan is making a big impact this season (2021-2022).
“The 2018 West Aurora High School graduate is back to his old tricks in helping another team exceed expectations.
Donatlan is leading South Suburban College men’s basketball team to reach new heights. The Bulldogs finished the regular season with an undefeated record for the first time in school history.
“Twenty-seven opponents and 27 victories for the Bulldogs who entered the NJCAA Division II playoffs ranked No. 1 in Region IV District III. The six-foot-three Donatlan, an athlete with elite skills, averaged 26.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.0 steals to earn the NJCAA Division II Player of the Week honors in early February.
“The sophomore guard is taking advantage of his college experience, in playing for four colleges in four states and two sports in four years. A standout in basketball, Donatlan is back to his favorite sport, after playing football and running back at the University of Wyoming, then playing football at Iowa Central Community College, and transferring to North Central Missouri to play basketball. He averaged 8.5 points in 24 games before circling back to play basketball in the Chicago area this season.”
He finished the South Suburban season scoring an average of 19.4 points and five assists per game.