Aaron Estrada

Born on February 3, 2001, Aaron S. Estrada has emerged as an eminent figure in the world of American professional basketball. A significant asset to the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League, he has indeed stamped his footprint in the field. Randomly tracing his roots and evolutionary stages, he is not an overnight superstar; he has undergone rigorous years of hustles and struggles that celebrate his rise to where he is today.

Estrada went to Woodbury Junior-Senior High School, where he exhibited excellent performance in basketball as a junior, boasting an average mark of 21.5 points, seven rebounds, and six assists per game. His highlight was scoring 23 points and subsequently made the game-winning foul shots that saw the Thundering Herd beat Cresskill High School 60-58, seizing their first Group 1 state title. A significant change happened when he transferred to St. Benedict’s Prep for his senior year and later appeared in a documentary series called “Benedict Men” on the streaming platform Quibi.

In July 2019, Estrada marked his monumental step in his career by committing to play college basketball for Saint Peter’s. The choice was not easy, considering the intrigues in deciding among East Carolina, Robert Morris, and Wagner. As a freshman, Estrada significantly contributed to the team with an average of 8.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game which eventually earned him the MAAC Rookie of the Year honors.

After one season at Saint Peter’s, he resolved to transfer to Oregon, another important stage in his career. Like any other transfer, it was not without options in mind, with Creighton and Syracuse being among the top considerations. However, his sophomore season in Oregon saw him average 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds per game, with the shooting field percentage being 42.3 percent. Upon the completion of the season, Estrada transferred again, this time to Hofstra. Here, he made an extra commitment to lose weight and focus on improving his three-point shooting.

February 5, 2022, will always be a day to remember for Estrada as he scored a whopping career-high 35 points in an 85-78 overtime win against James Madison. Notably, he was bestowed the title of Colonial Athletic Association’s Player of the Year. His determinations, resilience, and focus saw him defend the title the following year, averaging 20.3 points per game, subsequently leading Hofstra to a regular-season championship share.

Estrada then transferred to Alabama for his final season of eligibility, where he averaged 13.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. Despite his applaudable performance and significant contribution to the teams he played for, he remained undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft. However, this did not deter him. He went on to sign with the Detroit Pistons on October 7, 2024. Unfortunately, he ended up being waived ten days later.

Even though he was cut from the Detroit Pistons, Estrada’s journey did not end there. On October 29, he was signed by the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League, a clear testament to his unwavering love for the game and determination to rise above setbacks. Over the years, he has grown and honed his skills to become the esteemed professional basketball player that he is today, and this is just the beginning of his illustrious journey in the world of professional basketball.