Princeton’s Tosan Evbuomwan made his way to the NBA
PRINCETON, N.J. — Being a scholar athlete is mentally, physically and emotionally draining. Many college athletes move away from their hometowns to continue their academic and athletic careers in new locations. They concentrate all of their time and energy on making the adjustment from high school to college life away from home.
Princeton basketball alum Tosan Evbuomwan is a prime example of this – but his story is a lot more complex than your average collegiate athlete.
Evbuomwan was raised in Newcastle, England, with his brother. After his mother Michelle passed away at a young age, his father Isaac was tasked with raising both boys on his own. The primary sports that were available in Newcastle were soccer and rugby.
Evbuomwan was a standout soccer player and played at Newcastle Academy, which is a prominent soccer school in England. Four years later he received an offer from Princeton University to become a member of the team, which Evbuomwan accepted. When speaking on Evbuomwan’s commitment, Princeton Head Coach Mitch Henderson said, “We got really lucky” because of the unique recruiting situation.
Fast forward another four years and Evbuomwan led Princeton to its first Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1967. The six-foot-eight-inch forward would be the cornerstone of the Tigers’ historic run. He was a major contributor to many statistics on both sides of the ball, which he would be known for throughout his career.
Evbuomwan holds the university record for the most assists in a single season with 161. He is also sixth all-time in career assists with 323, and thirty-fourth all-time in career points with 1,033. He tallied accolades which include: Ivy League Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2023, Ivy League All-Tournament Team in 2022 and 2023, and Ivy League Player of the Year in 2022.
After leading Princeton in the NCAA Tournament and solidifying himself as a potential professional prospect, he was extended an invitation to the NBA Combine in 2023. He wasn’t selected in the two rounds of the NBA Draft but signed a free-agent contract with the Detroit Pistons. He was assigned to the Pistons’ G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise. After posting averages of 15.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists, Evbuomwan signed a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. This signing made his NBA dreams turn into a reality. After a short stint with the Grizzlies, the Pistons re-signed Evbuomwan to a two-way contract where he can still develop at the G-League level while remaining available to return to the NBA team when needed.
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