What Big 12 Player Of The Year JT Toppin's Return Means For Texas Tech
Texas Tech forward JT Toppin celebrates after scoring a basket during the second half against UNC ... More Wilmington in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Wichita, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
JT Toppin could have played for any men's college basketball program next season. If the 6-foot-9 forward entered the transfer portal, the Texas Tech star would have had no shortage of suitors. He could have also declared for the NBA draft. Instead, Toppin announced via Instagram Wednesday that he will return to the Red Raiders.
The move is a boon for Texas Tech, a school that's historically not known for its basketball prowess. But the Red Raiders were able to keep Toppin, a second team Associated Press All-American, thanks to a financial commitment to basketball and the program's success in recent seasons. Texas Tech reported nearly $3.2 million in Name, Image and Likeness deals in the first two years those arrangements were allowed, according to a July 2023 Dallas Morning News article. Meanwhile, CBS Sports reported Wednesday that Toppin could earn about $4 million in NIL deals next season, although those figures are estimates and not publicly disclosed.
Toppin, a Dallas native, was ranked 111th in the high school class of 2023, according to the 247Sports Composite. He played his first season at the University of New Mexico, where he averaged 12.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game and was the Mountain West Conference's freshman of the year. After the season, he participated in the NBA draft combine before transferring to Texas Tech.
This past season, Toppin led the Red Raiders with 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game and made 55.4% of his field goals. He averaged 22.2 points and 10.6 rebounds in the season's final 15 games, including 19.2 points and 11 rebounds in four NCAA tournament games. Toppin was named the Big 12 Conference player of the year and helped Texas Tech advance to the NCAA tournament's Elite 8, where the Red Raiders blew a 10-point lead with 5:26 remaining in an 84-79 loss to Florida. The Gators ended up winning the national title, defeating Houston in Monday night's championship game.
Despite the heartbreaking ending, it was an impressive season for Texas Tech, which was unranked in the preseason Associated Press poll and picked to finish seventh in the Big 12. The Red Raiders went 28-9 overall and 15-5 in the Big 12, good for second in the league behind Houston. The Big 12 was the nation's third-best conference behind the SEC and Big Ten, according to analyst Ken Pomeroy.
Plenty of time remains until college basketball rosters are set for next season. The transfer portal is open through April 22, while players who enter the NBA draft have until June 15 to withdraw and return to college.
Still, Toppin's return could be among the most consequential decisions considering he will likely be a favorite to win the national player of the year award. Purdue guard Braden Smith is the only first team All-American who is likely to return to college, while Memphis guard PJ Haggerty is a second team All-American who could be back. RJ Luis, the Big East player of the year at St. John's, has declared for the NBA draft and also entered the transfer portal. Luis is the No. 72 prospect in the NBA draft, according to ESPN, which had Toppin as the No. 42 prospect before his announcement.
Texas Tech is still waiting to hear about Darrion Williams, a 6-foot-6 forward who averaged 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists this past season. Williams declared for the NBA draft and entered the transfer portal, although he could return to Texas Tech. The Red Raiders also have freshman Christian Anderson, who averaged 10.6 points as a freshman last season.
In two season as Texas Tech's coach, Grant McCasland has gone 51-20, made two NCAA tournaments and nearly advanced to the Final Four. With McCasland's coaching acumen and Toppin back, the Red Raiders should be in the mix in the Big 12 race again next season and enter with a top 25 national ranking.
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