John Tonje
John Tonje, born on April 23, 2001, in North Omaha, Nebraska, USA, is a professional basketball player currently affiliated with the Utah Jazz. Standing at 6’4″ (1.93 m) and weighing 218 lbs (99 kg), Tonje plays as a shooting guard. His personal basketball journey began at Omaha Central High School in Omaha, Nebraska, where he laid the groundwork for what would become a promising collegiate and professional career.
Tonje’s collegiate career spans three different institutions, showcasing his development and adaptability as a player. He began his university journey with the Colorado State Rams, playing from 2019 to 2023. During his time at Colorado State, he was a key contributor, initially coming off the bench in his freshman and sophomore seasons. His performance steadily improved, with his points per game (PPG) increasing from 3.6 in 2019-2020 to 14.6 in 2022-2023. He also demonstrated shooting efficiency, with field goal percentages (FG%) ranging from 0.389 to 0.473, and free throw percentages (FT%) consistently above 0.800. After his stint at Colorado State, Tonje transferred to Missouri, playing for the Tigers during the 2023-2024 season. He then made another move, transferring to Wisconsin for the 2024-2025 season. At Wisconsin, he continued to showcase his offensive capabilities, achieving an impressive 19.6 PPG and an FG% of 0.465 in the 2024-2025 season, which contributed to him being ranked as the 296th transfer portal player after the 2023-2024 season. His collegiate career highlights include being a Consensus Second Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten in 2025.
John Tonje’s professional career began with his selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. He was drafted by the Utah Jazz in the second round as the 53rd overall pick. Following the draft, on August 26, 2025, Tonje officially signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz. This agreement means he will split his playing time between the Jazz and their NBA G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, allowing him to gain valuable professional experience and further develop his skills within the Jazz organization.
