New Mexico transfer Toppin signs with Texas Tech

• Jeff Borzello, ESPN

  • Personnel WriterMay 28, 2024, 01:26 PM ET Close Basketball recruiting expert.
  • Joined ESPN in 2014.
  • Graduate of University of Delaware.New Mexico transfer

JT Toppin, the Mountain West Freshman of the Year, has signed with Texas Tech, the school revealed Tuesday.Toppin had actually also gotten in the NBA draft and participated in the

integrate, but he will now withdraw and head to Lubbock to play for Grant McCasland.”I can’t wait to show Red Raider Country the energy and hard work I give every game,”Toppin stated. “I eagerly anticipate getting to Lubbock and helping the team win. “Editor’s Picks 1 Related The 6-foot-9 forward from Dallas made a huge impact as a freshman, averaging 12.4 points

, 9.1 rebounds

and 1.9 blocks en path to second-team All-Mountain West honors along with the league’s Freshman of the Year award. He likewise shot 62.3%from the field, ranking 11th nationally in that category.Toppin came out of the gates with 2 double-doubles in the first four games of his profession, including 27 points and 11 rebounds in a win over

Toledo in November. He tallied eight double-doubles in Mountain West play, highlighted by 25 points and 13 boards versus Flying force and 17 points and 16 rebounds against San Diego State.He likewise assisted lead New Mexico to the Mountain West Conference tournament title, averaging 10.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 3 games– notching a double-double against San Diego State in the title game, his 3rd double-double versus the Aztecs last season.Toppin is ranked No. 12 in ESPN’s transfer rankings and was the third-best transfer still available.He’s the fourth incoming transfer for McCasland and the Red Raiders this spring, following Elijah Hawkins (Minnesota ), Kevin Overton(Drake)and Federiko (Pitt ). They likewise bring back four of their top seven scorers from a team that went 23-11 and earned a 6-seed in the NCAA competition in McCasland’s first year at the helm.