Prospect Profile: Najashi Tolefree
Najashi Tolefree set himself apart from his peers in many ways during Wisconsin’s Top 250 Expo on September 15th. Not only does the 6-foot-5 wing jump out because of his length and size, but he has some serious skill. Tolfree…
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Continue ReadingNajashi Tolefree set himself apart from his peers in many ways during Wisconsin’s Top 250 Expo on September 15th. Not only does the 6-foot-5 wing jump out because of his length and size, but he has some serious skill. Tolfree was great on defense and he was able to make plenty of plays when it was his chance to score the ball.
Prep Hoops Wisconsin caught up with the stellar sophomore to talk about his game, goals, and recruitment.
There were games last year when Tolefree was inclined to watch Jacob Fierst, Glenn Martin, and Shilo Bowles go to work. The trio of underdogs was able to drag West Allis Central to a state appearance while Tolfree was a solid role player. He will now look to make the step from promising freshman to real-deal sophomore.
“My sophomore goals are to make 1st team all-conference for offense and defense, I also want to average 15 or more points and to add on to that 7 or more assists per game. I will also make it my job to shut down the opposing team’s best player to open up opportunities for my team,” said Tolfree. He continued to say, “This year I will do the little things and whatever my coach asks of me is what I’m going to do because I understand if we want to win we are going to have to sacrifice.”
Does Tolfree have high expectations for himself? Certainly. But he has enough talent to hit the bullseye on all of these targets.
For many prospects, defense is a second priority. That is not the case for Tolfree. At the Top 250 Expo, Tolfree’s communication and defensive effort were unmatched. His voice echoed across the gym as he communicated with teammates and he swatted multiple shot attempts into other courts.
“This year I understand that defense is something I must become very strong at if I want to be successful this upcoming season for the high school and AAU season. So that is something I’ve been putting a lot of time into.”
The wing is just beginning to see the fruits of his labor. The seed was planted during the summer with Tolfree’s hard work, and now he is starting to see the tree sprout up and bud. It won’t be long until his defensive fruit is ripe and edible.
I am not the only person that Tolfree has impressed. He told Prep Hoops Wisconsin that Central Missouri, South Dakota , Western Michigan, and Hillsdale University have all been showing interest in him as a prospect. The wing also will be joining Phenom University — Wisconsin’s only EYBL team — next spring.
Tolefree is a player that most coaches wish they could get their hands on. He is phenomenal on the court, but also off it. “I am just a great teammate,” says Tolefree. “[I am] someone that my team can lean on when the game is tight.”
Wisconsin high school basketball fans should get used to scouts raving about Najashi Tolefree. He has set himself up for nothing but success during his basketball career.