March 29, 2010
Tollefsen Line Forming
San Ramon Valley High enjoyed a great run this season before falling to De La Salle in the playoffs. A 28-4 overall record, 13-1 in East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) play -- records achieved minus a home gym -- were remarkable. A one-point loss to St. Mary’s and a trio of defeats (by nine, two and three points respectively) administered by De La Salle are all that kept the Wolves from an undefeated season. Now, Chris McNealy and some other seniors are departing but Jordan Guisti returns and so does frontcourter Mark Tollefsen. The latter put together a number of double-double games this season and has garnered early attention from college recruiters.
Watch Tollefsen this summer
The 6-foot-8, 170-pound Tollefsen just completed his junior year. It’s one best described as in the ‘stepping up’ category as it included being selected to the all-star game at the Super 100 camp, all tournament team awards at both the John May Classic and the Riordan High Crusader Classic, plus membership on the EBAL all-league squad. His accomplishments included a number of double-double games towards the end of the season.
What sets Tollefseon apart now and bodes well for him down the road is both his desire and effort for improvement. Here’s Joe Fuca of Tollefsen’s club basketball team, Lakeshow-Flight Elite, on his player: "Mark is a classic gym rat and has a really strong drive to get better. You can find him even playing on the local outside basketball courts -- he’s always out there and trying to get better."
Tollefsen describes his best basketball skill as shooting, especially from distance. "I worked on it at lot this past summer," he said. Conversely, what he is working on to improve is "getting quicker, especially laterally."
Here is Fuca’s description: "Mark reminds most people of a very young Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks. He can shoot like Nowitski from the outside and has a very quick release. His accuracy from outside makes it hard to cover him when he attacks the rim. Mark also has an explosive jumping ability that is very special. I can still remember last summer when he had two monster dunks in a AAU game in LA and everyone in the gym was jumping around and excited. Mark has learned that he is a tremendous finisher at the basket and can dunk off a pass or dribble even with players under the basket.This past fall at the Super 100 when he hit four three-pointers in a row, the coaches in the stands were yelling, ‘you should really try and cover him.’ Mark can also block shots. He has a real knack of coming from the weak side and making blocks. He averages five or six per game in AAU play."
Asked about his best basketball memory, Tollefsen offered "scoring 16 points and getting 14 rebounds in a win against Monte Vista this past season."
Tollefsen specifically lauds John Raynor, the longtime San Ramon Valley coach, as "a great coach who knows how to win. He’s a major part of our success."
In looking back upon entering high school and now approaching his final year come next September, he has observed that "my jumping has improved and I’m more relaxed in big games."
Tollefsen carries a 3.0 grade point average so his academics are in order. As for recruiting, St. Mary’s and Santa Clara have both talked with him, with the University of Pennsylvania and Lehigh also showing interest. The latter has requested Tollefsen’s transcripts. However, Gonzaga holds a special place in Tollefsen’s heart (hey didn’t the Zags have a high-scoring small forward not too long ago?) Tollefsen’s preference is aligning himself with a college basketball program that utilizes more of a getting up and down the floor playing style.
Fuca added, "Many colleges have reached out about Mark based on his height, and shooting ability. If he continues to better his rebounding, he will improve his current mid-major prospects to a major prospect level. Mark is very long and rangy and can play multiple positions on the court. His college position will be the three or four based on how much weight he puts on in the next few years."
Now with the club basketball season beginning, Tollefsen will be looking to break out. "Mark will play on the number one Lakeshow Junior team and he will join his teammate Jordan Guisti as well," Fuca explained. "Our Juniors will play in a few large tournaments in the spring -- the Denver Challenge sponsored by Adidas, in Los Angeles twice with the Shootout and May tourney, and at the Rumble in the Bay. They will also play in five large tourneys in the July timeframe."
Look for a Tollefsen bandwagon to be forming soon.