Signed, Sealed, and Delivered – Marcus Tsohonis (2019 Jefferson HS)
There simply couldn’t have been a better match for Marcus Tsohonis. On Wednesday the first day of the early signing period, the versatile 6-foot-5, 175-pound guard sat among family and friends at Jefferson High School to sign his letter-of-intent to attend the University of Washington.
“It’s just crazy – it’s been my big dream since I was younger to go D-I and find a college that I fit into and this was the right fit,” Tsohonis said. “I’m overwhelmed and happy.”
The signing capped off a recruitment that saw the Huskies surge ahead early – especially after they offered a scholarship. Tsohonis made an official visit to campus in September and it wasn’t long after he got back home he gave head coach Mike Hopkins a verbal commitment. There were many things that figured into his eventual decision – the chance to play in the Pac-12 close to home was big – but the relationship he built with Hopkins and his coaching staff was paramount.
“They’re all super cool,” Tsohonis said. “Coach Hop he’s a really good dude. I know on the court he seems pretty intense but off the court he’s a really good dude. Coach Dollar is super nice, Coach Rice – the whole staff is connected and they care about their players and that’s a big thing for me.”
The fit on the court was key as well. Tsohonis has shown at Jefferson and on the AAU circuit that he can effectively play either guard spot and his versatility is something Democrats head coach Pat Strickland believes will allow his senior standout to excel with the Huskies.
“Coach Hopkins and those guys are doing a good job and I think he’ll fit into their program,” Strickland said. “Coach is from Syracuse and used to coaching long guards and playing zone and I think that will be conducive to Marcus’ game. I’m really happy for Marcus to be a part of a special club to sign a Division I athletic scholarship to further his education and his basketball career. He’s a great leader and back when he was in middle school I had this vibe that he would sign a D-I scholarship.”
Tsohonis will be joined at Washington by AAU teammate Raequan Battle and he notes that he’ll be doing his best to convince his other teammate Jaden McDaniels to join him at UW. But with his own signing in the books Tsohonis will now turn his attention to his senior season where he and his teammates hope to make up for last year’s loss in the 6A title game.
“I’m ready go to college but I’m focusing on this high school year and getting a championship,” Tsohonis said. “We’re really young but they’re smart, they listen and play hard. Last year we had a lot of talent but we didn’t play hard, but this year we’ve got talent and they play hard, and that will be good.”
Tsohonis currently ranks as the #1 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2019.