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USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What former Wisconsin star John Tonje said in his introductory press conference with Jazz
Former Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje met with the media for the first time as a member of the Utah Jazz on Sunday. Just a few days after hearing his name called on day two of the 2025 NBA draft, Tonje ventured to Salt Lake City, Utah, for his first meeting with local media members. He, alongside lottery pick and former Rutgers star Ace Bailey and NCAA champion Walter Clayton Jr., shared their initial thoughts on Utah and the opportunity to compete on a professional stage. Prior to the draft, several outlets projected Tonje to fall in the mid-40's. The Jazz elected to select the Nebraska native at No. 53 overall, a slight slip for the 6-foot-5 scoring machine. Nonetheless, Tonje appeared optimistic. 'That was a little bit outside my range," Tonje told the media. "At the end of the day, I'm super excited to be here and just so happy I'm here with the Jazz.' Unlike Bailey, a consensus lottery pick before he even reached Rutgers, Tonje's journey to reach the NBA was a bit unorthodox. As a high schooler, Tonje received just three offers from Omaha, Colorado State and Missouri Western State. As a freshman with the Rams, he averaged 3.6 points and 1.0 rebounds in 8.5 minutes per game as a reserve. The future NBA draftee would spend four years with Colorado State and eventually started all 33 games as a senior with per-game averages of 14.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. A summer with the Cameroon National Team in during the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament in 2023, coupled with a 2023-24 medical redshirt season, positioned him for an explosive final year as a college player. With the Badgers, Tonje was named a 2025 Second Team All-American, 2025 Naismith Player of the Year Semifinalist and member of the 2025 All-Big Ten first team. He averaged just under 20 points per game off 46.5% shooting from the field, 39% from 3 and 91% from the free-throw line, punctuating his season with a 37-point performance against BYU in the NCAA Tournament. Not coincidentally, Tonje's growth from an athlete with a minimal recruiting profile to college star prompted him to reflect on his basketball adventure. 'I think I had a lot of adversity," Tonje said. "Had to work my way up. I've been the last guy on the bench and then the guy at the top of the scouting report, so I think I'm someone that can understand all types of roles on the team, how to face adversity and try to get better every day.' He will now look to showcase his dexterity on the hardwood when the Jazz begin their summer league run in Salt Lake City on July 5. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
USA Today
29-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje reacts to his NBA Draft selection
What a moment for him Former Wisconsin Basketball star John Tonje witnessed his NBA dreams come true on Thursday evening. Surrounded by friends and family, Tonje looked on as NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum announced the Utah Jazz's selection with the 53rd pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. Immediately afterwards, his loved ones erupted in joy, eliciting a giant smile from Tonje. Here's the moment Tonje realized his NBA aspirations morphed into a reality: Tonje's journey is arguably one of the more memorable of any recent player to represent the Badgers. After playing just eight games before being sidelined for the entire 2023-24 season at Missouri due to injury, Tonje burst onto the scene as Wisconsin's most prolific offensive option. The 6-foot-5 wing began the season with a 41-point barrage against No. 9 Arizona -- a performance that included a baffling 21 made free throws -- to set the tone for what Wisconsin would accomplish during the 2024-25 slate. Tonje would then secure 2024 Greenbrier Tip-Off Tournament MVP nods with strong outputs in wins over UCF at Pittsburgh in UW's mid-November tournament, roughly three months before dropping 32 points in a signature triumph over No. 7 Purdue on the road. In the postseason, Tonje also registered 32 points against No. 7 Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship semifinal and 37 tallies against BYU in the Badgers' NCAA Tournament round of 32 loss. At the season's end, he was named a 2025 Second Team All-American, 2025 Naismith Player of the Year Semifinalist and member of the 2025 All-Big Ten first team. The three-level scorer will now join former Rutgers star Ace Bailey and Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr., who pocketed an NCAA title with the Gators in April, in Salt Lake City. The 2024-25 iteration of Utah went 17-65, the worst record in the entire NBA. Tonje's professional journey will begin in Utah's summer league action from July 5-7. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
