Meet Your Newest Arizona Wildcat: Strong Forward Mark Tollefsen
In the midst of our Wildcats declaring for the NBA draft, former USF Forward Mark Tollefsen decided to accept Coach Miller’s offer and come to Arizona!
The USF Don’s motto is “Aim Higher”, and Tollefsen took that motto to heart by choosing the best school of all his choices, the University of Arizona! Cal had to be tempting with Ivan Rabb joining days earlier. He also visited Arizona with Damion Lee who ended up chosing Louisiana.
Where did Tollefsen come from? His roots are in Northern California, 30 miles East of San Fransisco. Here is a little high school and college information via the USFDons.com website:
"High School: Graduated from San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, Calif….played for head coach John Raynor…earned third team All-East Bay and All-Metro honors following his senior campaign…shot .540 from the field and .450 from three-point range…San Ramon posted a 28-4 record during his junior season and shared the EBAL title with De La Salle…Wolves advanced to the CIF Division I Northern California semifinals…played for the Lakeshow AAU team."
"College: In 96 career games, Tollefsen scored 1,036 career points for a 10.8 point per game average, pulled down 396 rebounds (4.0) and shot 54.0 percent from the field, including 37.4 percent (106-for-283) from three-point range. He ended his USF career by making 70 consecutive starts over the past three seasons dating back to the last five contests of the 2012-13 campaign."
Dec 3, 2014; Boulder, CO, USA; San Francisco Dons center Mark Tollefsen (23) shoots over Colorado Buffaloes forward Wesley Gordon (1) in the second half at the Coors Events Center. The Buffaloes defeated the Dons 72-55. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Last season Tollefsen averaged 14.0 points and 5.4 rebounds last season, shooting 37.8 percent from 3-point range (42 of 111). He earned All-West Coast Conference honors according to Fox Sports Arizona’s Anthony Gimino.
Mark has experience as well playing against Gonzaga and in the March 7th game he scored 21 points and made 8 rebounds. Arizona needs a great three point shooter, hopefully Mark will become that clutch player with a big presence on defense as well.
Mark’s Head Coach at USF,
Rex Walterswished him well, “We want to wish Mark nothing but the best and appreciate his efforts over the last four years.”
According to Scout.com, Tollefsen told them, “I just fit in there, and meeting Coach Miller for the first time was great … got to see how great of a coach and person he is around his family.” We know Mark! We know! ZonaZealots started a hashtag “#BeliveInMiller” we are hoping it catches on this next season.
Mark took to Twitter to show us fans that he already is in Beardown mode!
Beardown!!!!!! Ready to get to work with the new squad! #beardown #gocats #23
— Mark Tollefsen (@Air_Tolly23) April 25, 2015
ZonaZealots was scouring twitter for pictures of Mark, we happened across the tweet from him, then asked him if he made it happen yet:
Now I just need a cool edited picture of me in u of a stuff with a cool background #needtomakeithappen
— Mark Tollefsen (@Air_Tolly23) April 26, 2015
Too bad its against the rules, I am sure we all have some great gear to lend him for a photo..
@ZonaZealots not quite! It's a work in progress.. I'm waitin for it too!
— Mark Tollefsen (@Air_Tolly23) April 30, 2015
He is a lefty as well as a player who can stretch the floor, and dunking is not problem:
Three of his future teammates,
,
and
playing in the
BallisLife 2015 All American game
this Saturday, wonder if he will be able to go down and check them out? I’m going, so I’ll let you know.
Beardown Mark! Glad you picked Arizona!