Phil Tollestrup (born October 12, 1949) is a former Canadian basketball player and Olympian. Among his accomplishments, he was the fourth overall scorer in the 1976 Summer Olympics (21.3 ppg),[1] where Canada competed for the bronze medal;[2][3][4] was drafted in the NBA by the Buffalo Braves in 1973;[5][6][7] was a First Team CIAU All-Canadian (1973);[8][9][10] was the University of Lethbridge's Male Athlete of the Year (1973);[9][11][12] and was a First Team Canada West All-Star.[13]
Tollestrup played for the Canadian men's national basketball team from 1971 to 1979.[10][11] This included representing Canada in the 1976 Olympics.[14][15] Tollestrup played well in these Olympics, being the tournament's fourth overall leading scorer with 21.3 ppg.[1][9][15] The '76 Olympics were also noteworthy in that Canada competed for the bronze medal and finished fourth overall,[2][3][4] one of only three times in the past 80 years in which Canada has competed for an Olympic medal in basketball.[4]
Tollestrup also represented Canada in three Pan American Games (1971, 1975, 1979),[14][15][12] the 1972 Pre-Olympic Tournament,[16] the 1973 World Student Games[5][9][12] and the 1974 FIBA World Championships.[5][14][17] Tollestrup played well in these tournaments as well: in the 1974 World Championships, he was selected as a North / South American All-Star[15] and was Canada's third-leading scorer with 13.3 ppg.[17] In the 1972 Pre-Olympic tournament, he was Canada's second-leading scorer with 19.3 ppg.[16]
In high school, Tollestrup led Raymond High School to win two provincial championships (1967, 1968).[9][11][15] He was also named provincial MVP.[5]
He played at BYU the following four years (1968–72).[5][9][12] At BYU, he played on the conference championship team.[15]
Tollestrup played his final year (1972–73) at the University of Lethbridge.[9][10][12] This was the University of Lethbridge's inaugural year in basketball.[11] In this year, he established intercollegiate scoring records[15] when he averaged 26.4 ppg.[13] He was named a First Team All-Canadian,[8][10][11] a Canada West First Team All-Star[13] and as the University of Lethbridge's Male Athlete of the Year.[9][11][12] In this year, he also led the Pronghorns to the Canada West championship game.[9][12][13]
Tollestrup has been inducted into the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame (1991),[14] the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame (1984),[15] the City of Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame (2011),[9] the University of Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame[11] and the City of Raymond Sports Hall of Fame,.[10][12][15] Additionally, the 1976 Canadian men's national team of which Tollestrup was a member[1] was inducted into the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame.[19]
Personal life
Tollestrup was born on October 12, 1949.[3][6][14] He is a native of Raymond, Alberta, Canada.[5][6][11]
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