BYU Basketball: Grad transfer Jake Toolson adds much needs scoring punch
BYU Basketball has to replace their leading scorer from last season. Mark Pope found some help in familiar face Jake Toolson.
After a disappointing 2018-19 season that ended without a postseason appearance, BYU Basketball lost their head coach Dave Rose to retirement. The program hired Utah Valley Head Coach Mark Pope to the same position weeks later, tasked with taking the program back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five seasons.
It’ll be difficult to do it immediately, with the Cougars losing their leading scorer and rebounder Yoeli Childs, who has opted to go after his junior season. While there is a chance that he could come back with the new NBA Draft rules, it’s unlikely we’ll see the 6’8 forward in a BYU uniform again.
At Utah Valley, Coach Pope was known for bringing in transfers and was able to do it again with Jake Toolson, who he coached with the Wolverines the past couple of seasons. The 6’5 guard started out with BYU, averaging a couple of points a game at around 10 mpg in two seasons. He transferred to Utah Valley in 2016, where he became a starter and effective player in the WAC.
This past season, Toolson averaged 15.8 ppg and 4.5 rpg on 54% shooting from the field, including 46% from three-point range. The senior led the Wolverines to their most D-1 wins in a single season (26) and was rewarded with WAC Player of the Year.
After Pope left for BYU, the former Utah Valley player entered the transfer portal as a grad transfer. There were several options Toolson could’ve gone to, including Utah State and Arizona State, along with Duke and Virginia from the ACC. But in the end, Toolson decided to stay with the coach who developed him into a top-notch scorer.
Adding a player who dropped 20+ points 10 different times this past season is huge for a Cougars team who returns only one player who averaged more than double figures (TJ Haws – 17.8 ppg). Along with Childs going to the pros, Jashire Hardnett and Rylan Burgersen transferred out after the season, while Luke Worthington and McKay Cannon have graduated and moved on.
The obvious concern for BYU Basketball in 2019-20 is the perceived lack of scoring outside of Haws. Nick Emery took a huge step back after missing over a year of action due to personal issues, averaging just 6.1 ppg. Zac Seljaas is more of a spot up shooter and Gonzaga transfer Jesse Wade is a complete unknown after sitting out this past season. There is certainly hope that rising sophomores Connor Harding and Gavin Baxter continue to develop next seasons and become more a part of the offense.
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There still needs to be another frontcourt addition for depth purposes but as far as the backcourt goes, BYU Basketball should be in good shape, with Haws and Toolson leading the way. There is still a ways to go before competing with Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s at the top of the WCC but the addition of Toolson has closed the gap at least for next season.