Tanner Toolson will play college basketball for a program he’s cheered for, watched legends play for, and a place he calls the big time.
That big time for Toolson is Brigham Young University, one of four Division I programs the 6-foot-5 Union High School senior listed among his top four college choices last month.
Toolson announced his verbal commitment to the Cougars on social media.
“I feel like BYU would be such a hard option to pass up,” Toolson said in an interview with The Columbian. “It’s so big time. … I feel like BYU is the place because everything fit for me.”
A fit in more ways than one. Toolson describes himself as a lifelong BYU fan who grew up in Utah before moving to Vancouver in eighth grade. His father, Andy, played at BYU from 1984-’85 and ’87-’90 and served as an assistant coach from 2001-05.
Toolson, The Columbian’s All-Region boys basketball player of the year and Washington’s Mr. Basketball, graduates from Union next month. While many high school players join their college programs immediately after high school, Toolson won’t until 2022. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Toolson is choosing to serve a two-year mission before enrolling at BYU. He said he doesn’t anticipate a two-year hiatus from basketball to impact him returning to competition — this time, at a Division I level. He plans to head to Jacksonville, Florida, in July to begin mission work for the church. He’ll be part of BYU’s signing Class of 2022.
“It’s something I need to do in my life for more than my physical well-being and my basketball career,” Toolson said. “Just for my life’s well-being. I feel like it’s meant to be and I need to develop two years of service to the Lord.”
Toolson leaves Union as one of its most decorated players in two seasons of varsity basketball. He helped Union go 27-1 this season and place third at the Class 4A state tournament. He leaves with five single-season records: scoring average (23 points per game), total points, total field goals, made free throws and steals. He joins Jordan Chatman (2012) as the other Union boys basketball player to sign with a Division I program.
“This is the place for me,” Toolson said of BYU, “and I’m going to make the most of it.”
