Tanner Toolson’s basketball toolbox is nowhere near full, but by the time the Union High School junior’s high school career ends, it might be overflowing.
After all, Toolson seems to get a new tool at every corner lately: The consistent spot-up 3-point shooter. The ball-handler who plays post. The rebounder with so much versatility.
But the ever-improving Toolson is seeking more tools to add to growing toolbox: More quickness and agility, better ball-handling skills.
And one more.
“Next year,” he said, “I want to be one of our team’s main defensive players.”
For now, though, Toolson’s turned a lot of heads for the undefeated and top-ranked Titans as they open the postseason at 20-0. Union hosts Sumner (10-10) at 7 p.m. Wednesday to open the 4A bi-district boys basketball tournament.
Toolson is described by coach Blake Conley as the Titans’ X-factor, averaging 13.5 points per game, leading the team in rebounds, and shooting nearly 59 percent from the floor. That includes almost 42 percent from 3-point range. Three-point shooting, after all, is how his father, Andy Toolson, made a living playing 11 years of professional basketball in Europe and the NBA.
But success didn’t come without hard work and determination — and patience, no less — from Toolson. This time a year ago, Toolson might not have been recognizable as a player wrapping up the junior-varsity season standing 6 feet tall playing point guard.
Toolson is a self-described late-bloomer, not just in height growing nearly 4 inches over the calendar year, but in skillset, too. He’s no longer simply a catch-and-shoot 3-point specialist, and the new-found length and athleticism allows him to be a threat from shooting guard to post.
“That’s all I could do,” Toolson said of 3-point shooting a year ago. “I couldn’t drive or (the ball) would get stolen. This year, I’ve gotten quicker and faster and I’m able to drive and rebound. That’s been key for me this year. … It’s all been working,” he said, “and clicking.”
In other words, a “do-it-all guy,” Conley said of his now-transformed guard/forward combination player who grew into his frame and found his role.
“He’s so versible,” the coach said. “He can post up, score down low, hit the 3, rebound well. I’ve played him at the 5 (center) and I never thought he’d be playing varsity at the 5.”
Growing up in a basketball family and the fifth-youngest of six children, Toolson was eager at a young age to follow the same path that led to older brothers thriving in high school and college.
And, of course, the influence his father’s had over the years has been important, too.
“He’s my mentor,” Tanner Toolson said. “Anytime I’ve been down or up, he always keep same level and I love that about him.
“I hope I can keep getting taller,” Toolson added later, “and hopefully be a good shooter like he is. … His jump shot is so smooth.”
Between eight European teams across Spain, Greece and Italy and two partial seasons with the NBA’s Utah Jazz, Andy Toolson played 11 years of professional basketball. He signed with the Jazz as an undrafted free agent out of BYU in 1990 and played in 60 career games over the 1990-’91 and ’95-’96 seasons.
While father and son have similar styles, the elder Toolson said his son is a more complete player than he was at 17. There’s a lot of contributing factors, and hard work and dedication tops the list.
“It’s been fun to see it come to fruition now,” Andy Toolson said.
Conley, the Titans’ coach, said he’s never had a player in his coaching tenure make as big of a jump skill-set wise in a timeframe as Toolson has. It’s hard to believe it’s the same player who entered Union’s program two years ago at 5-7 and a step slow.
And now?
“At open gyms,” Conley said, “he’s dunking on people.”
Just another tool added to the ever-increasing toolbox for Tanner Toolson.
