Missouri Basketball: Analyzing incoming transfers for 2023-24 season

New Missouri Basketball player – John Tonje (Colorado State)

The first transfer addition to the team this year was John Tonje, a 6’5 guard from Colorado State. Tonje spent four years with the Rams before arriving at Mizzou. Each year he has improved as a player, increasing his points per game and taking on a bigger scoring role. Last season Tonje increased his scoring to 14.6 ppg, up 5.5 ppg from the prior year and good enough for second on the team. Missouri is hoping that they can get this type of offensive output from Tonje this upcoming season. There will be plenty of chances for him to light up the scoreboard in a fast-paced offense with the Tigers.

In John Tonje, Missouri is getting a good overall offensive player. Last season he saw success from three, where he shot almost 39 percent on just under 5 attempts per game. But he isn’t just a threat from beyond the arc. Tonje has a quick first step toward the basket and has the strength to finish well at the rim. And if a defender can keep him from getting to the basket, Tonje can pull up and knock down a mid-range jumper. Last season at Colorado State, he shot just under 55 percent on his 2-point shots. On offense, Missouri is getting someone who is a threat to score from anywhere.

Scoring isn’t the only way that Tonje will help Missouri this upcoming season, he will also help with rebounding. It is no secret that Missouri struggled greatly on the boards this past year. Tonje grabbed just under 5 rebounds per game, a skill that is desperately needed for the Tigers. He also has decent handles with the ball and can push the pace off rebounds, and should prove to be a solid secondary ball handler. And while he probably won’t be as big a factor on the defensive end, Tonje should fill the much-needed scoring hole left behind by D’Moi Hodge.