Frank Tolbert.

Aug. 11, 2008

AUBURN -- Auburn guard Frank Tolbert, who just finished his eligibility this past basketball season, graduated from Auburn University Saturday with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology.

Tolbert became the 29th member of Auburn's 1,000-point club with 16 points in the win at LSU Jan. 16. The River Falls, Ala., native finished 17th on the Tigers' all-time scoring chart with 1,242 points.

Tolbert finished his senior year in 2007-08 averaging 13.4 points and 5.2 rebounds. Averaging 16.5 points in Auburn's final 11 games, he scored a career-high 32 points, including 26 in the second half, at Vanderbilt Feb. 2. In the second half alone, Tolbert went 8-of-12 from teh field, 5-of-6 from 3-point range and 4-of-5 from the foul line.

"It feels really good to graduate and not to have to worry about school anymore," said Tolbert. "It was well worth all the hard work and worth it that I have a college degree now. There are a lot of things I can achieve now, and I will cherish it for the rest of my life."

Tolbert notched his second career double-double with 24 points and a career-high tying 10 rebounds at No. 2 Tennessee Feb. 20. He scored 20 points in 29 minutes vs. South Carolina Mar. 1 and totaled 17 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds at Arkansas Mar. 8.

"We are really excited for Frank," head coach Jeff Lebo said. "I love Frank. He had an outstanding career, and we wish him the best in the future."

Tolbert's next move is to go overseas and play professional basketball in either Germany or Belgium and then try to come back to the United States and play.

Tolbert is the 31st Auburn basketball player to graduate from Auburn University in the past 14 years, including 10 former players that came back to earn their degree. Tolbert is the 11th Auburn player to graduate in the Lebo era since 2005. The total includes Jeff Moore and Adam Harrington, who both came back to graduate with the Operation Follow Through program in 2006.