Andrew Kent Toolson (born January 19, 1966) is an American retired professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
player. A
shooting guard
The shooting guard (SG), also known as the two, two guard or off guard,Shooting guards are 6'3"–6'7"BBC Sports academy URL last accessed 2006-09-09. is one of the five traditional basketball positions, positions in a regulation basketball game ...
-
small forward
The small forward (SF), also known as the three, is one of the five Basketball position, positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically shorter, quicker, and leaner than Power forward (basketball), power forwards and Cent ...
, he played
college basketball
College basketball is basketball that is played by teams of Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. In the Higher education in the United States, United States, colleges and universities are governed by collegiate athle ...
for the
BYU Cougars
The BYU Cougars are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Brigham Young University (BYU), located in Provo, Utah. BYU fields 21 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) varsity athletic teams. They are a member of the Big 12 C ...
Early life and college years
Born in
Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, Andy Toolson was the fourth child of Bill and Elaine Toolson, owners of a drugstore; Bill was a dental student at the Loyola University School of Dentistry. Andy Toolson graduated from
Twin Falls High School
Twin Falls High School is a public secondary school in Twin Falls, Idaho, one of two traditional high schools operated by the Twin Falls School District #411.
School history
Twin Falls High School was founded in 1907. Citizens passed a bond in ...
of
Twin Falls, Idaho
Twin Falls is the county seat of and the largest city in Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. The city had a population of 51,807 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census.
, in 1984 and attended
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University (BYU) is a Private education, private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is the flagship university of the Church Educational System sponsore ...
(BYU). With a .503 field goal percentage, Toolson was the third-leading scorer on the
BYU Cougars men's basketball
The BYU Cougars men's basketball team represents Brigham Young University in NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, NCAA Division I basketball play. It currently competes in the Big 12 Conference. Established in 1902, the team has won 27 c ...
team as a freshman (1984–85) season with 8.5 points per game with a season-high 23 in a triple-overtime loss to
UTEP
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a public research university in El Paso, Texas, United States. Founded in 1913 as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy, it is the third oldest academic component of the University of Texas Syste ...
. From 1985 to 1987, Toolson served an LDS mission in
Concepción, Chile
Concepción (; originally: ''Concepción de la Madre Santísima de la Luz'', "Conception of the Blessed Mother of Light") is a city and Communes of Chile, commune in south-central Chile, and the geographical and demographic core of the Greater Co ...
.
As a sophomore (1987–88), in 32 games (22 starts), Toolson averaged 6.0 points and 2.8 rebounds and made 43.0% of field goal attempts. Toolson improved to 15.3 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game in 30 games (26 starts) in his junior season 1988–89 and won three WAC Player of the Week honors and Academic All-WAC honors. He reached a career-high 32 points against
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
. In the summer of 1989, Toolson worked as an intern in the office of
U.S. Senator
The United States Senate is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and House have the authority under Article One of the ...
James A. McClure of Idaho.
In his senior year 1989–90, Toolson averaged 18.3 points and 6.6 rebounds in 30 games and was a first-team
Academic All-America
The Academic All-America program is a student-athlete recognition program. The program selects an honorary sports team composed of the most outstanding student-athletes of a specific season for positions in various sports—who in turn are give ...
selection. As of 2012, Toolson still ranks as 3rd overall in 3-point shooting percentage (.437) at BYU. Toolson graduated from BYU with a
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...
degree in
international relations
International relations (IR, and also referred to as international studies, international politics, or international affairs) is an academic discipline. In a broader sense, the study of IR, in addition to multilateral relations, concerns al ...
in 1990. In 1999, Toolson earned his
Master of Arts
A Master of Arts ( or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA or AM) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Those admitted to the degree have ...
degree in
social science
Social science (often rendered in the plural as the social sciences) is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among members within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the ...
at
Syracuse University
Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920 ...
.
Professional playing career
Toolson was not selected in the
1990 NBA draft
The 1990–91 NBA season, 1990 NBA draft took place on June 27, 1990, in New York City, New York. One of the standouts of this draft is Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Basketball Hall of Famer Gary Payton. He became a nine-time All-Sta ...
, but the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets of the
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association (CBA), originally known as the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League, and later as the Eastern Professional Basketball League and the Eastern Basketball Association, was a men's professional basketball m ...
(CBA) selected Toolson in the fifth round as the 81st overall pick in the 1990 CBA Draft. Toolson signed with the
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz are an American professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City. The Jazz compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference. Since the 1991–92 season, the ...
as an undrafted free agent on October 1, 1990, and played 47 games with 15 starts as a
small forward
The small forward (SF), also known as the three, is one of the five Basketball position, positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically shorter, quicker, and leaner than Power forward (basketball), power forwards and Cent ...
in the season. In each game he averaged 2.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 0.3 steals. Toolson played 10 games for Telemarket Brescia of the Italian league
Legadue Basket
Serie A2, known for sponsorship reasons as Serie A2 Old Wild West, is a men's basketball league in Italy. It constitutes the second-tier of the Italian league pyramid, below the first division LBA and above the third division Serie B, with ...
in the 1991–92 season.
For the 1992–1993 season, Toolson played in the CBA with the Tri-City Chinook. He then played at Festina Andorra of the Spanish
Liga ACB
The Liga ACB, known as Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, is the top professional basketball division of the Spanish basketball league system. Administered by the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto (ACB), Liga ACB is contested by 18 teams, w ...
ULEB
Union of European Leagues of Basketball (ULEB; ) is a sports organization within basketball created for growth of professional basketball in Europe.
Returning to the Utah Jazz for the season, Toolson played 13 games, averaging 1.7 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.1 assists before being cut on January 23, 1996. Shortly afterwards, Toolson signed with
AEK Athens
A.E.K. (; Athlitikí Énosis Konstantinoupόleos, ''Athletic Union of Constantinople'') is a major Greek multi-sport club based in Nea Filadelfeia, Attica. The club is more commonly known in European competitions as A.E.K. Athens.
Establishe ...
of the
Greek Basket League
The Greek Basketball League (GBL), and also known as the Stoiximan Greek Basketball League (GBL) for sponsorship reasons, is the Greek basketball league system, first tier level professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by the ...
. Toolson then returned to Liga ACB and played two seasons with Festina Joventut from 1996 to 1998. Toolson was part of the Joventut 1996–97
Copa del Rey de Baloncesto
The Copa del Rey de Baloncesto ( English: ''Basketball King's Cup'') is an annual cup competition for Spanish basketball teams organized by Spain's top professional league, the Liga ACB.
History
Originally known as the ''Copa de España de Bal ...
championship team. For the 1998–99 season, Toolson played for
Maroussi
Marousi or Maroussi (), also known as Amarousio (), is a city and a suburb in the northeastern part of the Athens urban area, Greece. Marousi dates back to the era of the ancient Athenian Republic; its ancient name was '' Athmonon'' () and it r ...
of the top-tier Greek league before being cut in January 1999. From February to April 1999, Toolson played for Girona Gavis of Liga ACB. He then signed with Adecco Estudiantes of Liga ACB the following season and was cut in November 1999. For his final season (2000–01), Toolson played for the Liga ACB team
Casademont Girona
Club Bàsquet Sant Josep was a professional basketball team based in Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
History
The club was founded in 1962 by Ramon Sitjà as CB Sant Josep. In 1989 it became the Anonymous Sport Association (SAD). In 1987, when the ACB ...
.
Post-playing career
Coaching
After his playing days Toolson was invited back to BYU as an assistant coach under Steve Cleveland. Toolson's primary responsibilities were recruiting, academics, offensive skill development, and game preparation. Toolson would serve as an assistant coach from 2001 to 2005.
Sports broadcasting
In 2006 Toolson joined KSL with Greg Wrubell to call BYU men's basketball games on the radio. He would serve as an analyst for KSL broadcasts for 3 seasons (2006–2009) when he would be replaced by Mark Durrant. In 2007 Toolson also began calling some TV men's basketball games for BYUtv Sports where he has called games with Dave McCann (2007, 2009–present), Jarom Jordan (1 game in 2009), Chris Twitty (2007), and Steve Brown (2008). In 2010 Toolson would sign a contract with the Mtn. where he has called games with Dan Gutowsky and Peter Young. He currently lives in Vancouver, Washington.
Personal life
Andy's cousin Ryan is a professional basketball player.