SoCon Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)
By Joey Loose
6. Justin Tuoyo
A 6’10 center from Fayetteville, Georgia, Tuoyo began his collegiate career at VCU way back in 2012. After spending that year in a minimal bench role, he’d join former assistant Will Wade at Chattanooga. After sitting out that next season, Tuoyo would become a major weapon for the Mocs, playing both under Wade and successor Matt McCall for his final three years of eligibility.
As a redshirt sophomore, he’d average 10.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game, showing no signs of rust and anchoring the Mocs’ frontcourt. He’d help lead Chattanooga to the NCAA Tournament the following season, with a 29-win season that included regular season and conference tournament titles in the SoCon. His senior year saw him put up 13.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks a game with decent shooting numbers.
An elite shot blocker and efficient player, Tuoyo was actually named SoCon Defensive Player of the Year for three straight seasons, a rare and prestigious honor. He also received Second Team All-SoCon honors in those seasons, emerging as a great rebounder and scorer as well. He was actually 5th in the nation in field goal percentage as a senior and blocked 270 shots in those three years with the Mocs. Tuoyo played his role extremely well in two different coaching schemes for a program that won plenty of games.