Texas Tech’s Toppin, Big 12 POY, selects return
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Jeff BorzelloApr 9, 2025, 02:00 PM ET
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- Basketball recruiting expert.
- Signed up with ESPN in 2014.
- Graduate of University of Delaware.Texas Tech star forward JT Toppin,
the Huge 12 Gamer of the Year, announced Wednesday he will return to the Red Raiders for his junior season.Toppin’s return likely vaults Texas Tech back into the top 10 nationally and seals his position on the preseason All-American team.He was one of the best players in the nation over the final several weeks of the season, earning second-team All-American honors in addition to his Big 12 awards. Toppin was terrific in 4 NCAA competition games, publishing double-doubles in all four and averaging 19.3 points and 11.0 rebounds.He had some of the best individual single-game performances of anybody in the sport in February, choosing 41 points and 15 rebounds versus Arizona State and then finishing with 32 points and 12 rebounds 3 days later on versus Oklahoma State. He likewise went for 30 points and 14 boards against Colorado toward the end of the regular season.Overall, Toppin balanced 18.2 points and 9.4 rebounds on the season, helping lead Grant McCasland’s group to a 28-9 record and an Elite Eight appearance.It was Toppin’s first season in Lubbock after investing his freshman project at New Mexico, where he averaged 12.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks.He was No. 45 in ESPN’s most current NBA draft rankings, projecting him in
the 2nd round.