Recruiting Report: Jordan Toles (2020)
Saint Frances Academy has a long list of great teams and players since it became co-ed back in 1970. Chances are when you look at the rankings for the Baltimore area, you’ll find the Panthers somewhere high. This past season was different. Due to a mixture of injuries and a very young, inexperienced roster, they finished with a 16-18 record in a very tough MIAA A Conference.
One of their young players that they leaned on quite a bit was freshman Jordan Toles. When you first see Toles, he doesn’t look like a freshman. His body overall looks much more developed than the majority of kids his age. With a good combination of strength and athleticism, it doesn’t take Toles long to make a play that brings the crowd to their feet.
Adjusting to such a talented conference is tough for any freshman. The speed of the game alone is drastically different from even the junior varsity level, let alone the middle school level. Other things such as physicality, knowing offensive sets, and defensive rotations can often times be like another language for 14-15 year olds.
Toles admits that the beginning was a struggle.
“It was tough, but I feel like I adjusted pretty quickly and once I got used to the flow it became natural,” Toles told PrepHoops.
Once he found his niche, Toles found himself in the starting lineup as the season progressed and finished and by the end of the year was able to bring his scoring average to nine points per game.
The 6’2” guard is able to make his impact felt on both ends of the floor, but he is particularly special in the open floor with his jumping ability. Whether it’s off the dribble or off a lob pass, Toles rise with the best of them. It doesn’t take him long to get above the rim, either. Some players need to get their feet prepared before taking flight. With Toles, it seems like he can be in dead sprint and all of a sudden soar to the rim.
His athleticism not only makes him something to watch on offense, but also defensively. Toles isn’t afraid to contest a dunk attempt even if it’s a big man. In transition, Toles racks up blocks by pinning opposing guard’s layup attempts, which is huge for momentum within a game.
In the half court, Toles is more of an attack off the dribble type of player. With his strength and athleticism, he’s able to finish crafty layups around the rim and can finish through contact if the situation presents itself.
This summer, Toles is playing for Team Thrill 15U. “I want to get consistency on my jumpsuit and improve my decision-making with the ball,” Toles said.
Toles has solid form on his jumper already, so as he gets in the gym throughout the summer and focuses on repetition, the outcome of his jumpsuit should see some improvement going into next season.
Toles currently holds one offer from Denver. Xavier, Virginia, and George Mason are a few schools that have shown interested in the future sophomore. Chances are after this summer wraps up, there will be more schools to add to that list.