AOTW: Tosi & Herrington; from baking cookies in home economics to starring for UAA basketball in eastside reunion
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Growing up together on the east side of Anchorage, Bishop Tosi and Hasaan Herrington were often opponents on the court.
“I’ve probably been playing against Bishop since like third grade,” Herrington remembered.
Now, the two basketball standouts have finally teamed up together for their hometown University of Alaska Anchorage.
“I’ve known Hasaan forever, that’s my guy,” Tosi said. “It’s been good to finally be on the same team as him after battling for years.”
Bishop starred at Bartlett High School, where he was First Team All-State his senior season — a campaign that featured a 45-point outburst against Dimond — and captured three All-Cook Inlet Conference honors as a Golden Bear.
Herrington was twice named to the First Team All-State in high school, leading East Anchorage to a 19-0 record and a state championship his senior season while being named CIC Player of the Year.
After stellar high school careers, Tosi went the junior college route and played two seasons at Bellevue as an all-conference player, while Herrington spent two seasons contributing at DII’s UT-Tyler.
However, both players knew at some point that they wanted to return home and compete for the team they grew up watching.
“It’s so fun, I love seeing my guys eat. It’s good having local guys and I think everyone else likes seeing us out there too,” Tosi said.
“The older I get, the more it means,” Herrington added about playing for UAA. “I didn’t really think of it as much going to UT-Tyler, but once I came back, you get to see all the fans — especially the younger kids, people you grew up with, parents being able to come watch the games — it means everything.”
Tosi has bounced back after missing much of last season due to injury. Through 13 games, the 6-foot-6 forward is averaging 11.2 points per game on an efficient 62.6% from the field and leads the Seawolves in total rebounds by a wide margin.
The junior recorded his second consecutive double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds — both career highs — in a GNAC win over Western Oregon on Dec. 7, ultimately being named Conference Player of the Week.
“Bishop was outstanding this weekend and extremely efficient,” UAA head coach Rusty Osborne stated in a press release. “His ability to score and facilitate from the forward position adds versatility to our offense and opens up opportunities for his teammates. Defensively, his rebounding was huge. After being forced out for a year with an injury, he is starting to get his timing back with a new group. We are excited to watch him continue to improve.”
In that same game, Herrington hauled in a career-high eight rebounds in a career-high 30 minutes. The 6-foot-3 guard completely stuffed the state sheet, tallying 9 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. Herrington is the fourth-leading Seawolf in scoring (7.9 ppg) and rebounds (3.8 rpg), and is second in assists (3.2).
Osborne described Herrington as the league’s best defender, as he leads the team with 17 total steals so far.
“Defense is everything, it’s our identity,” Herrington said. “It’s fun playing defense, getting in their grill, seeing everyone else frustrated when you’re guarding them.”
An eastside reunion for Herrington and Tosi that may have sparked over a batch of cookies.
“We became like best friends in sixth grade in home-ec class,” Herrington recalled. “We were baking cookies and stuff together, then we played against each other all in high school, and now we’re roommates and teammates and like the bestest friends.”
UAA will continue to rely on their homegrown talent as conference play gets underway. The Seawolves will play Colorado State-Pueblo and Johnson & Wales this weekend at the Hoops in Hawaii Classic before going on Holiday break.
They will return to court in 2025 to continue GNAC play.
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