As a junior, he averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and two steals per game, helping lead Vista Ridge to a 20–7 record and a berth in the 4A state semifinals.

[2] Regarded as a two-star recruit, in June 2016, Maldonado committed to playing college basketball for Wyoming.

However, his season was ended by a sprained knee ligament and back spasms, and he took a medical redshirt.

[6] Maldonado averaged 15.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and four assists per game as a redshirt sophomore, while shooting 42 percent from the field.

On February 9, 2023, he scored 17 points in a 69–59 loss to UNLV and became the fifth player in program history to pass the 2,000-point threshold.