JP Tokoto

Jean-Pierre Tokoto II (born September 15, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for Ironi Nes Ziona of the Israeli Premier League. He played college basketball for the University of North Carolina before playing professionally in the NBA G League, Australia, Israel and Spain.

This article is about the basketball player. For his grandfather, the footballer, see Jean-Pierre Tokoto.

JP Tokoto
Tokoto in January 2016
No. 2 – Ironi Nes Ziona
PositionSmall forward / Power forward
LeagueIsraeli Premier League
FIBA Europe Cup
Personal information
Born (1993-09-15) September 15, 1993
Rockford, Illinois
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolMenomonee Falls
(Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin)
CollegeNorth Carolina (2012–2015)
NBA draft2015 / Round: 2 / Pick: 58th overall
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2015–2016Oklahoma City Blue
2016–2017Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2017–2018Perth Wildcats
2018–2019Hapoel Eilat
2019–2020Burgos
2020–presentIroni Nes Ziona
Career highlights and awards

High school career

Born in Rockford, Illinois,[1] Tokoto attended Menomonee Falls High School in southern Wisconsin, where he averaged 21.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.1 assists as a junior and 24.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.6 steals as a senior, earning three-time first-team all-state selection, set several school records, among them, career scoring, rebounding and steals and the school's single-game record with 48 points against Catholic Memorial High School. He also earned Greater Metro Conference Player of the Year honors as a junior and won the 2012 American Family Insurance Slam Dunk contest in New Orleans as a senior.[1]

College career

Tokoto played three years of college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels. As a junior, he averaged 8.3 points and 4.3 assists per game and was known for his dunking ability and defensive prowess.[2] He declared for the 2015 NBA draft on April 8, 2015 after his junior season.[1]

Professional career

2015–16 season

On June 25, 2015, Tokoto was selected with the 58th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers[3] and joined them for the 2015 NBA Summer League.[4] On September 27, 2015, he signed a one-year, non-guaranteed tender worth $525,000 with the 76ers.[5][6] However, he was waived by the team on October 26 after appearing in five preseason games.[7] On October 30, he joined the 76ers' D-League affiliate team, the Delaware 87ers. The following day, he was acquired by the Oklahoma City Blue in a trade with the 87ers.[8] In 49 games for the Blue in 2015–16, he averaged 11.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

2016–17 season

In July 2016, Tokoto joined the New York Knicks for the 2016 NBA Summer League.[9] He signed with the Knicks on August 2,[10] but was waived on October 21 after appearing in three preseason games.[11] On October 25, he returned to the Oklahoma City Blue, only to be traded to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers five days later.[12][13] In 52 games for the Vipers in 2016–17, he averaged 11.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game.

2017–18 season

In July 2017, Tokoto joined the Utah Jazz for the 2017 NBA Summer League. On September 6, 2017, he signed with the Perth Wildcats for the 2017–18 NBL season.[14] He appeared in all 30 games for the Wildcats in 2017–18, averaging 15.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

2018–19 season

On June 27, 2018, Tokoto secured a spot on the Golden State Warriors' roster for the 2018 NBA Summer League.[15]

On July 28, 2018, Tokoto signed a one-year deal with the Israeli team Hapoel Eilat.[16] On January 2, 2019, Tokoto recorded a career-high 31 points, shooting 9-of-12 from the field, along with six rebounds, six assists and three steals for 45 PIR, leading Eilat to a 95–89 win over Hapoel Tel Aviv.[17] He was subsequently named Israeli League Round 12 MVP.[18] On April 12, 2019, Tokoto participated in the 2019 Israeli League All-Star Game, where he recorded 19 points along with five rebounds and was named the All-Star Game MVP.[19] In 38 games played for Eilat, Tokoto led the team in rebounds (7.6) and steals (1.4) per game, to go with 13.4 points and 3.1 assists per game. Tokoto helped Eilat reach the 2019 Israeli League Final Four, where they eventually lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

2019–20 season

On July 3, 2019, Tokoto signed a one-year deal with the Spanish club San Pablo Burgos.[20] He appeared in 26 games for Burgos in the Liga ACB and the Champions League, averaging 7 points, 5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. On January 25, 2020, Tokoto parted ways with Burgos.[21]

On January 26, 2020, Tokoto returned to Israel for a second stint, signing with Ironi Nes Ziona for the rest of the season.[22] On February 2, 2020, he made his debut in an 83–88 loss to Ironi Nahariya, recording a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.[23]

Personal life

Tokoto was named after his maternal grandfather, Jean-Pierre Tokoto, who played soccer for the Cameroon national team. He starred in all three games for Cameroon at the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Tokoto's mother, Laurence Tokoto Trimble, met her husband, Trevor Trimble, in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.[24] Tokoto's biological father is former NBA player Brian Oliver.[25]

References
  1. "J. P. Tokoto Bio". GoHeels.com. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  2. Wilco, Daniel (June 19, 2015). "A man full of surprises, ex-Tar Heel J.P. Tokoto prepares for NBA draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  3. "Philadelphia 76ers Select Jahlil Okafor, Richaun Holmes, Arturas Gudaitis, J.P. Tokoto, And Luka Mitrovic In The 2015 NBA Draft". NBA.com. June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  4. "Las Vegas Summer League Roster & Schedule". NBA.com. July 11, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  5. "SIXERS ANNOUNCE 2015 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER". NBA.com. September 27, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  6. Wojnarowski, Adrian (September 7, 2015). "Sources: 76ers sign former North Carolina forward J.P. Tokoto". Yahoo.com. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  7. "PHILADELPHIA 76ERS WAIVE FIVE". NBA.com. October 26, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  8. "Oklahoma City Blue Acquires Six Players on NBA D-League Draft Day". OurSportsCentral.com. October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  9. "Knicks Add J.P. Tokoto & DaJuan Summers For Summer League". NYKInformation.com. June 26, 2016. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  10. "Knicks Sign J.P. Tokoto". NBA.com. August 2, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  11. "Knicks waive Lou Amundson, Cleanthony Early, Chasson Randle, J.P. Tokoto and Damien Inglis". InsideHoops.com. October 21, 2016. Archived from the original on May 6, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  12. "2016 D-League Draft Review And Trade Recap". dleaguedigest.com. October 30, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  13. Chagollan, Anwar (October 31, 2016). "Vipers perform trade with Erie and finalize training camp roster". NBA.com. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  14. "PERTH WILDCATS SIGN JEAN-PIERRE TOKOTO". Wildcats.com.au. September 6, 2017. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  15. "Warriors' J.P. Tokoto: Secures summer league spot". cbssports.com. June 27, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  16. "ג'יי.פי טוקוטו חתם בהפועל "פתאל" אילת". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). July 28, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  17. "Winner League, Game 12: Hapoel Eilat Vs Hapoel TA". basket.co.il. January 2, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  18. "מצטיין המחזור ה-12: ג'יי.פי טוקוטו". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). January 4, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  19. "אולסטאר: ניצחון שלישי ברציפות לזרים". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  20. "San Pablo Burgos inks J.P. Tokoto". Sportando. July 3, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  21. "JP Tokoto, San Pablo Burgos part ways". Sportando. January 25, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  22. "ג'יי פי טוקוטו חתם בעירוני נס ציונה". IroniNZ.com (in Hebrew). January 26, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  23. "Winner League, Game 18: Nes Ziona Vs Nahariya". basket.co.il. February 2, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  24. Trowbridge, Matt (January 31, 2010). "High school hoops superstar Tokoto is one that got away". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  25. Borges, David (June 18, 2012). "Road to Storrs for recruit Phil Nolan a winding he also has a sister who is 13 name Sidnee Trimble one". New Haven Register. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
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