Sharpened through EYBL experience, Tomlinson set to join Griffins next season
Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Jahson Tomlinson has consistently sought to challenge himself against older and better competition.
Next fall, he'll take another step in his basketball career when he suits up as a member of the MacEwan University Griffins, head coach Mike Connolly announced Wednesday.
The Pickering, Ont. product's journey to the U SPORTS ranks has been filled with high-level experiences, including playing in the Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) with Toronto-based Nike Bounce Canada in 2018-19.
"It was a great honour to play in the EYBL. That's the highest level of basketball you can play for a Canadian unless it's national (team)," said Tomlinson, who tested his game against premier U17 U.S. competition, which was a true eye-opener for him.
"You may think you're among the best in Canada, but when you reach the States, it's a whole different level of toughness," he continued. "It was humbling to go to the States. Lots of guys thought they were high ranked in Canada, but realistically there's always a bigger fish.
"It just toughened us up for the Canadian leagues after our high school careers."
Tomlinson is hoping that experience, combined with winning an OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) provincial championship with Pine Ridge Secondary in 2019 and spending his final year of high school hoops at the prestigious Ridley College Prep school in St. Catharines, Ont. (where is set to graduate in the spring) prepares him for the U SPORTS level.
"It's definitely going to help me because I'm used to the toughness of playing (against older players)," he explained. "When I was a junior, I played senior basketball. I'm used to play against older guys, so that's prepared me for university."
Connolly thinks the 6-foot-6 small forward/wing will fit nicely with the high-character culture he is aiming to instill in the Griffins men's basketball program. He described Tomlinson as a hard-working versatile "team-first" player who does a little bit of everything on the court.
"Jahson will allow us to have different looking line-ups on the floor as needed," said Connolly. "He's an athletic wing who can defend several positions but also has the diversity to play several positions on offence.
"He is a quality player who will have an immediate impact on our team, but more importantly Jahson is of quality character and he excels in the classroom."
Tomlinson describes his own game as one which provides production and contributions in multiple categories on the court.
"I think my game is more overall," he said. "I bring energy to the team and rebounding. I have had some games where I'd score 20, but usually I average from 10-15 points."
As he settles into the U SPORTS game on the court, Tomlinson will be continuing academic excellence off of it as he enters MacEwan's Business program in the fall.
"I look forward to working with Jahson," said Connolly. "He will have a great career at MacEwan both on the court and in the classroom."
