A toast to Tosan, an all-time great Tiger
Evbuomwan reflects on Princeton’s March to remember
LOUISVILLE, KY. >> Tosan Evbuomwan walked off the court one last time as a Princeton men’s basketball player as the final seconds ticked off of a magical run to the Sweet 16 and hugged every last coach, player and manager on the bench.
It was the end for an alltime great Tiger.
“I’m just very thankful and honored to be in the position I am, and that’s not without everyone down the line that I did hug,” Evbuomwan said in the locker room following an 86-75 setback against Creighton at the KFC Yum! Center on Friday night. “I’m a long way from home, but it’s never felt that way because these are my brothers.”
The entire country learned the Evbuomwan story over these last two weeks.
The 6-foot-8 forward from Newcastle, England who didn’t start playing basketball until he was 14 years old. How his father and coach in the U.K. sent letters to Ivy League schools and Princeton was the first to answer the call. How he became Ivy League Player of the Year with his unique skill set and put himself on the radar of NBA scouts.
“A brilliant blinding light from heaven,” coach Mitch Henderson called him more than once. “It’s like exquisite watching him play to me. He is like a nine or ten in soccer. He slows the game down for himself, which then speeds the game up for those around him.”
Evbuomwan also became the team spokesman among the players over the last two weeks. March Madness rides
like this have a way of making national stars of even the most unassuming, naturally humble talents.
“I embrace it because it’s only a good thing in the coverage the guys received,” Evbuomwan said. “I think it’s very well deserved. Guys like Ryan (Langborg), who weren’t recognized by the league, and he came out and showed he’s one of the best players around. It’s been great to be able to talk about those guys.”
In his last game in orange and black, Evbuomwan went out on his shield. He scored 24 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out nine assists (so too did Langborg, netting a career-best 26 points). He finished his career — one in which he only played three seasons because the Ivy League opted out of his sophomore year —
with 1,033 points and 323 assists.
“He’s the best player I’ve ever played with,” Langborg said.
Evbuomwan credited his growth as a player to how the coaching staff has pushed him, particularly Henderson, who made the decision to utilize him as a point forward ahead of his junior season.
“He’s never taken me lightly, he’s always pushing me, he’s always insisting that I can be better,” Evbuomwan said. “It just inspires confidence in me and an even greater willingness to work and never settle with anything.”
How should Princeton fans remember him?
In his own words: “As a winner. (A) selfless player and one who puts winning before everything. Playing a winning
style of basketball and really looked out for my teammates.”
Evbuomwan still has one season of college eligibility left as a graduate transfer, which he can’t use at Princeton, but he’ll also have the opportunity to turn professional. He said he’ll sit down with his family next week and make a decision.
“Keep playing,” he said when asked what’s next.
Wherever that ends up, it’s going to be hard seeing him in a uniform that’s not orange and black.
“I’m not going to lie,” Evbuomwan said, “it will be tough to do it.”