Tosan Evbuomwan

Torisesan "Tosan" Evbuomwan (eh-WHOA-ma; born 16 February 2001) is a British professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Princeton Tigers.

Evbuomwan was born and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. His father, Isaac, is a gynecologist who played college basketball at the University of Lagos in his native Nigeria. His mother, Michelle, who was born to a Nigerian father and English mother, moved to Lagos when she was 21-years-old. Using her commercial pilot's license she earned in the UK, she became the first female captain to pilot a plane in Nigeria. Michelle met Isaac when she went in for a physical and they began dating. Isaac moved to England for work one year later and Michelle followed him there; they decided to settle in Newcastle after starting a family.

Evbuomwan's mother died of breast cancer on 16 November 2012. Evbuomwan grew up playing football, rugby, cricket and track & field, and was a standout football star, being selected to Newcastle United's Youth Academy. He had a basketball hoop at his house because his father had played in Nigeria, but he did not begin playing basketball competitively until age 14. Evbuomwan attended Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne and helped start the basketball team there with a friend. He subsequently played for the Newcastle Eagles U18 team and took part in the Deng Camp run by Luol Deng, in which his play began receiving more attention. Eagles head coach Ian MacLeod sent highlight clips of the star player to American universities, and Princeton assistant coach Brett MacConnell was impressed, and suggested to head coach Mitch Henderson to recruit him. Evbuomwan signed with Princeton in April 2019.

Evbuomwan averaged 3.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game as a freshman at Princeton, making 19 starts. The 2020–21 season was cancelled in the Ivy League due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He practiced against the Newcastle Eagles during the pandemic and joined Great Britain's 3x3 team in Tel Aviv.

On 4 December 2021, Evbuomwan scored a career-high 27 points in an 81–79 overtime win against Drexel. He matched his career-high of 27 points as well as seven rebounds and five steals on 4 February 2022, in an 88–83 loss to Cornell. As a junior, Evbuomwan was named unanimous Ivy League Player of the Year.

In 2023, Evbuomwan was named All-Ivy League, and First Team All-District. On 30 March 30, 2023, he declared for the 2023 NBA draft.

Motor City Cruise / Memphis Grizzlies / Detroit Pistons (2023–present)

After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Evbuomwan joined the Detroit Pistons for the 2023 NBA Summer League and on 2 October 2023, he signed with them. However, he was waived on 21 October and nine days later, he joined the Motor City Cruise.

On 30 January 2024, Evbuomwan signed a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies after averaging 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 34.5 minutes for the Cruise. He was active for his first NBA game on 1 February against the Cleveland Cavaliers, though he did not make his NBA debut until the following day against the Golden State Warriors. On 4 February he put up a career-high 12 rebounds (including 7 offensive rebounds) in a 131–91 blowout loss to the Boston Celtics. On 9 February he returned to Motor City.

On 13 February 2024, Evbuomwan signed a 10-day contract with the Detroit Pistons and on 23 February, he signed a two-way contract with the Pistons.

Evbuomwan has represented Great Britain at several international competitions. He participated in the 2018 FIBA U18 European Championship. At the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship, he averaged 10.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.

NBA