How Colorado State transfer John Tonje can help Missouri basketball in 2023-24
Missouri basketball’s first transfer portal addition of the offseason was John Tonje. The guard joined the Tigers from Colorado State.
Tonje enters MU for his final season of eligibility. He was listed at six foot five and 210 pounds last season with the Rams.
He hails originally from Omaha, Neb.
"One of the most experienced transfers in the nation, John is a proven winner during his college career," MU head coach Dennis Gates said in a statement when Tonje signed "He brings a veteran leadership to our locker room and epitomizes our eight core values on and off the court. He adds size to our perimeter and is a three-level scorer that will make an immediate impact on our success."
What John Tonje brings to Missouri basketball
Missouri had a hole at guard after D’Moi Hodge, Tre Gomillion and DeAndre Gholston all ran out of eligibility. Tonje, a natural wing, fit head coach Dennis Gates’ transfer player mold, an experienced talent who had played multiple years of college basketball and had seen most situations the SEC can throw at him.
Physically, Tonje is the closest thing to a direct Gholston replacement as was in the portal this offseason. During an April media availability, Gates compared him to all three departing guards.
“Those kids, those young people, they came as graduates and he’ll be able to unselfishly fit that bill when it comes down to his intangibles,” Gates said. “His leadership, but also his style of play on both ends of the court.”
Tonje started all 33 of Colorado State’s games last season. He averaged 14.6 points, and went over 20 seven times, with a season-high 25 against both Mississippi Valley State and Wyoming.
His career-high came his junior year against Oral Roberts when he scored 31 points. Throughout his CSU career, Tonje racked up 1,051 points.
Like Gholston, Tonje also has the ability to chip in on the boards, grabbing 4.7 rebounds per game last season. That sort of production would be an improvement from Gholston, who averaged 2.4 per game during the 2022-23 campaign.
“I think he demonstrates that same development throughout his career, that humility, that humbleness to be able to jump right in from where he was at to being a great teammate,” Gates said. “I think that synergy is very important in yielding results.”
Whether or not he can replace Gholston’s ability to make half-court shots as time expired on close games remains to be seen. However, Tonje doesn’t lack shooting prowess.
He made 47.3% of his attempts from the field, and 38.9% from three-point range last season. He also made free throws at an 81.5% clip.
Coming from a Colorado State offense that played somewhat similarly to Gates’ system, Tonje has the potential to make a major contribution for the Tigers next season. He’s able to play on the perimeter and work his way inside, which would help MU replace Gholston’s lost abilities.
The guard group will be crowded next year, with returnees including Nick Honor, Sean East II and possibly Isiaih Mosley. Missouri also has plenty of newcomers, with Caleb Grill, Tamar Bates, Curt Lewis and Anthony Robinson all heading to Columbia.
However, Tonje’s experience and skillset could lead to him seeing serious minutes during the 2023-24 season for the Tigers, and he can be a solid replacement for some of the lost talent from last year’s NCAA Tournament run.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: How Colorado State transfer John Tonje helps Missouri basketball
