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The Toolson Legacy Continues: Tanner Toolson Writing His Own Chapter at UVU

The Toolson Legacy Continues: Tanner Toolson Writing His Own Chapter at UVU

By Jason Erickson

The Toolson name has long been etched into Utah Valley basketball history, a legacy built over two decades by some of the greatest players to wear a Wolverines uniform. It's a name that carries weight, a name that holds scoring records, championships, and the expectation of success. And now, redshirt sophomore Tanner Toolson is making sure that legacy continues.

After helping lead Utah Valley to one of the most dominant seasons in program history, Toolson has played a vital role in a Wolverines team that finished 15-1 in WAC play, securing the outright regular-season championship. With 18 wins in their last 19 games and an active eight-game winning streak, UVU has surged to the top of the conference and now enters the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas as the No. 1 seed.

For his efforts, Toolson was named to the Second Team All-WAC, recognizing his impact on a team that has established itself as the best in the league. But even with all the success, he knows the job isn't done. Three more wins, and the Wolverines will punch their first-ever ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

Basketball in Their Blood

Toolson Family
Toolson Family
(LtoR): Andy (Tanner's Father), Tanner, Holly (Tanner's Mother), Conner (Tanner's brother)
Basketball runs deep in the Toolson bloodline, with each generation shaping the game in their own way. Tanner's father, Andy Toolson, starred at BYU from 1984–1985, 1987–1990, leading the Western Athletic Conference in three-point field goal percentage (.490) during his senior season while earning Academic All-American honors. He also led BYU to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances before embarking on a professional career that included two stints with the Utah Jazz and several seasons overseas.

Tanner never saw his father play in person, but he grew up surrounded by stories of Andy's career—including one image that still hangs in the family home.

"He's got a framed picture of him guarding Michael Jordan, taking a charge on him," Tanner said. "Jordan's rolling his ankle, and he's got the famous tongue-out look. My dad still talks about the crazy environments he played in overseas and in the NBA. It's cool to hear those stories and relate to him now that I'm at this stage."

Andy has watched Tanner develop into his own player, seeing traits in him that remind him of both himself and Conner.

"Tanner's always had that competitive fire," Andy said. "He's a hard worker, and I think the biggest thing he's shown this year is how much he values winning. His ability to make plays and impact the game in different ways, whether it's scoring, defending, or rebounding, reminds me a lot of Conner. But he also has his own unique way of playing, and I love watching him develop."

But when Tanner thinks back to his earliest basketball memories, it isn't Andy who comes to mind—it's his older brother, Conner.

"I remember watching all of Conner's games," Tanner said. "Seeing him play at Salt Lake Community College and then Utah Valley helped me fall in love with UVU. I didn't know it at the time, but I was already building a connection to this program."

Conner was a key figure in Utah Valley's success from 2016-19, scoring 1,224 career points—the fifth-most in program history—while ranking third in career three-pointers made (196) and second in career steals (135). He was a difference-maker on teams that won a then school-record 23 games in 2018 and 25 in 2019, helping UVU make back-to-back-to-back postseason appearances in the College Basketball Invitational.

Having played at UVU, Conner understands the expectations that come with being a Toolson in a Wolverines uniform.

"I know what it's like to have that last name and play at UVU," Conner said. "There are expectations, but I think Tanner has handled it better than anyone could have expected. He's worked for everything he's gotten, and you can see that in the way he plays. He competes, he plays hard, and he's a big reason why this team is winning at such a high level."

But even before Conner, it was Tanner's second cousin, Ryan Toolson, who set the standard for what a Toolson could accomplish at Utah Valley. Ryan is still the gold standard, holding eight career records, including points (2,163), three-pointers made (315) and three-point percentage (43.2%).

And then there's Tanner's other second cousin, Jake Toolson, who played a pivotal role in UVU's rise to national prominence. Jake was the 2019 WAC Player of the Year and is one of only three Utah Valley players to ever earn that honor (alongside Dominick Nelson and Fardaws Aimaq). He was also an AP All-American Honorable Mention and ranks third in career three-point percentage at 41.6%.

With so much history surrounding the family, the natural question is: how does Tanner navigate the weight of the Toolson legacy?

UVU head coach Todd Phillips, who coached both Conner at Salt Lake Community College and now Tanner, believes the young guard has done an incredible job carving out his own path.

"I think the Toolson legacy is kind of interesting in the sense that they've each been unique," Phillips said. "Tanner and Conner are probably the most similar, but they each wrote their own legacy. Sometimes I think it's harder for Tanner because he's got so many guys that have been so great before him, but he's creating his own niche and handling it tremendously. There's an internal pressure that a lot of other guys don't have when they come to UVU—he sees his name in the record books, but he's putting his own legacy in there too."

Tanner's Rise and UVU's Historic Season

Tanner's journey to this moment was anything but conventional. He began his college career at BYU, but after appearing in only six games as a freshman before suffering an injury, he redshirted and eventually transferred to UVU. That decision, he says, was a defining moment.

"When I entered the portal, this was the spot I wanted," Tanner said. "Coach Phillips coached my brother, and I already loved the school and the program. It just felt right."

Now in his second season on the court, Tanner has been instrumental in Utah Valley's success, earning Second Team All-WAC honors. He's been a dynamic scoring threat, knocking down 57 three-pointers this season, while also using his physicality and athleticism to get to the basket and make an impact.

Averaging 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and shooting 34.3% from three, Tanner has been one of the most consistent weapons for a Utah Valley squad that has dominated the WAC.

That success has been historic. Utah Valley's 15-1 conference record is one of the best in WAC history. The Wolverines dominated the league, finishing two games ahead of Grand Canyon (13-3), and have won 18 of their last 19 games, rattling off eight straight victories entering the WAC Tournament.

Now, the focus shifts to Las Vegas and the Orleans Arena, where UVU is just three wins away from the first NCAA Tournament berth in program history.

The Toolson Legacy Grows

The Toolson name has already been written into Utah Valley's history books.

Ryan set scoring records that may never be broken.

Jake became one of UVU's only AP All-American Honorable Mentions and a WAC Player of the Year.

Conner was a two-way force who helped lift UVU to new heights.

But now, Tanner has done something neither of them did.

He's a WAC Champion.

And if he helps Utah Valley to three more wins in Las Vegas, he'll do something no Toolson—and no Wolverine—has ever done before.

He'll take Utah Valley to the NCAA Tournament.

The stage is set.

And Tanner Toolson is ready for the moment.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Tanner Toolson

#5 Tanner Toolson

G
6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
Dominick Nelson

#0 Dominick Nelson

G
6' 5"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Tanner Toolson

#5 Tanner Toolson

6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Dominick Nelson

#0 Dominick Nelson

6' 5"
Junior
G

Facilities