Bishop and Kingston Tosi
It’s good to be a Tosi these days.
The Anchorage brothers and basketball stars have made news recently after high school senior Kingston announced he’ll sign with Utah State and Seawolf junior Bishop showcased his academic prowess by winning UAA’s James Madison Cup.
“I’m happy for Kingston,” Bishop said. “I gave him a good pitch for UAA but I guess Utah State is cool, too.”
Kingston is a 6-foot-7 forward at Millennium High School in Arizona, where he averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds last season as junior. He saw his stock soar over the summer at the Section 7 in Glendale, where he helped Millennium win its bracket.
He averaged 29 points during the June tournament and bagged a career-high 38 points against California’s St. Joseph.
In 2021, as a senior at Bartlett, the 6-foot-6 Bishop scored a career-high 45 points – the fourth highest single-game total in Cook Inlet Conference history. He was a three-time all-state standout for the Golden Bears and is now 117 points shy of reaching 1,000 for his college career.
Bishop went to junior college out of high school and came home to play for the Seawolves because he followed his heart. He told his little brother to do the same thing when he decided between finalists Utah State, Loyola Marymount and Fresno State.
Kingston Tosi throws down a dunk. Photo courtesy azcentral.com
“I just told him to make the best decision for him and I think he did that,” Bishop said. “A lot of it is just whatever feels right and Utah State was what felt right for him.”
Bishop is entering his second season with the Seawolves, although his first season was just one game – and what a game it was as his 24-point, 14-rebound effort keyed a 77-72 win over Chaminade – before a hand injury forced him to redshirt.
“Being able to sit for a year was something that I needed,” he said. “I was bummed to be out, but being able to sit back and take everything in was way more valuable than I thought it would be. I got to see things from a new perspective and I’m very grateful for that.
“With that being said, I can’t wait to play again.”
The season hasn’t even started yet, but Bishop already has a win under his belt after he teamed with UAA women’s basketball player Jaisa Gamble of California to claim the James Madison Cup.
The academic competition dates back to the mid-1980s and this was the first time a team of student-athletes prevailed. Bishop and Gamble beat five other teams of fellow UAA political science majors.
“I actually wasn’t going to participate until Jaisa brought it up to me,” he said. “She really knows her stuff and was definitely the MVP of the competition.”
Bishop Tosi and Jaisa Gamble won UAA’s annual James Madison Cup. Photo by James Evans
“It is nice to see another student-athlete take pride in both their academics and athletics. It was fun to mix competition and school. It was even more fun to win.”
As the sons of former NFL player Mao Tosi of Anchorage, Bishop and Kingston were born to battle and raised to win.
As they’ve gotten older, Bishop said, they’ve grown closer and become more competitive, much more competitive.
“The little pita bread loving crybaby is all grown up now and it’s been cool to see,” said big bro. “Our 1-on-1 games have been getting closer as the years have gone by, but all I have to say is that I won our last game.”
Of course, the Tosi’s ultimate hoops dream would be to face off in a college game next season.
“I’m hoping that there’s a possibility,” Bishop said.
UAA’s Bishop Tosi shoots over a defender. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
