Toppin selected to Karl Malone Award Watch List
October 31, 2024 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK – Texas Tech sophomore JT Toppin has been selected to the 2025 Karl Malone Award Watch List following a season where he recorded 12 double-doubles and averaged 12.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game as a freshman at New Mexico. Toppin is on a list of 20 announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame which highlights the top power forward in Division I men's college basketball.
The annual Karl Malone Award is named after the Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player.
Toppin transferred to Texas Tech after being named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year last season after also producing 68 blocked shots and 38 steals. A Dallas native, Toppin returned to his home state to join the Red Raiders following a season where he recorded 23 double-figure scoring performances in 35 games.
He is joined on the Malone Watch List by: Grant Nelson (Alabama), Trey Townsend (Arizona), Johni Broome (Auburn), Norchad Omier (Baylor), Ian Schieffelin (Clemson), Graham Ike (Gonzaga), J'Wan Roberts (Houston), Will Riley (Illinois), Malik Reneau (Indiana), Coleman Hawkins (Kansas State), Julian Reese (Maryland), Cade Tyson (North Carolina), Caden Pierce (Princeton), Bryce Hopkins (Providence), Donnie Freeman (Syracuse), Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB), Alex Karaban (UConn), Eric Dixon (Villanova) and Great Osobor (Washington).
Toppin finished his first collegiate season going 193-for-310 (62.3 percent) from the field with 11 3-pointers. He was ranked No. 12 in ESPN's transfer rankings and was the third-best transfer still available when he signed on May 28. His first career double-double came with 15 points and 10 rebounds against UT Arlington and was highlighted by him going for a career-high 27 points and 11 rebounds against Toledo. Averaging 1.9 blocks per game, he had a career-best five blocks in games against San Diego State, San Jose State and UNLV. He also had 25 points and 13 rebounds at Air Force and 21 points at Boise State. His 12th double-double of the season came with him going off for 13 points and 11 rebounds against San Diego State in the MWC tournament and had him in the top-40 in the statistical category.
Along with Toppin, Tech senior Elijah Hawkins was selected to the 2025 Bob Cousy Award Watch List following a season where he ranked second nationally with 7.5 assists per game along with averaging 9.5 points and 1.6 steals at Minnesota. Hawkins is on a list of 20 announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame which highlights the top point guard in Division I men's college basketball.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Friday, November 1. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2025 Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Malone, McClain, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers. The winner of the 2025 Malone and McClain Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).
Previous winners of the Karl Malone Award are Jaedon LeDee, San Diego State (2024), Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (2023), Keegan Murray, Iowa (2022), Drew Timme, Gonzaga (2021), Obi Toppin, Dayton (2020), Zion Williamson, Duke (2019), Deandre Ayton, Arizona (2018), Johnathan Motley, Baylor (2017), Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016), and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015).
For more information on the 2025 Karl Malone Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #MaloneAward on X and Instagram.
Follow the Red Raiders: Keep up with Tech men's basketball news at TexasTech.com and at the team's social media on Instagram, X and Facebook.
The annual Karl Malone Award is named after the Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player.
Toppin transferred to Texas Tech after being named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year last season after also producing 68 blocked shots and 38 steals. A Dallas native, Toppin returned to his home state to join the Red Raiders following a season where he recorded 23 double-figure scoring performances in 35 games.
He is joined on the Malone Watch List by: Grant Nelson (Alabama), Trey Townsend (Arizona), Johni Broome (Auburn), Norchad Omier (Baylor), Ian Schieffelin (Clemson), Graham Ike (Gonzaga), J'Wan Roberts (Houston), Will Riley (Illinois), Malik Reneau (Indiana), Coleman Hawkins (Kansas State), Julian Reese (Maryland), Cade Tyson (North Carolina), Caden Pierce (Princeton), Bryce Hopkins (Providence), Donnie Freeman (Syracuse), Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB), Alex Karaban (UConn), Eric Dixon (Villanova) and Great Osobor (Washington).
Toppin finished his first collegiate season going 193-for-310 (62.3 percent) from the field with 11 3-pointers. He was ranked No. 12 in ESPN's transfer rankings and was the third-best transfer still available when he signed on May 28. His first career double-double came with 15 points and 10 rebounds against UT Arlington and was highlighted by him going for a career-high 27 points and 11 rebounds against Toledo. Averaging 1.9 blocks per game, he had a career-best five blocks in games against San Diego State, San Jose State and UNLV. He also had 25 points and 13 rebounds at Air Force and 21 points at Boise State. His 12th double-double of the season came with him going off for 13 points and 11 rebounds against San Diego State in the MWC tournament and had him in the top-40 in the statistical category.
Along with Toppin, Tech senior Elijah Hawkins was selected to the 2025 Bob Cousy Award Watch List following a season where he ranked second nationally with 7.5 assists per game along with averaging 9.5 points and 1.6 steals at Minnesota. Hawkins is on a list of 20 announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame which highlights the top point guard in Division I men's college basketball.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Friday, November 1. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2025 Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Malone, McClain, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers. The winner of the 2025 Malone and McClain Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).
Previous winners of the Karl Malone Award are Jaedon LeDee, San Diego State (2024), Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (2023), Keegan Murray, Iowa (2022), Drew Timme, Gonzaga (2021), Obi Toppin, Dayton (2020), Zion Williamson, Duke (2019), Deandre Ayton, Arizona (2018), Johnathan Motley, Baylor (2017), Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016), and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015).
For more information on the 2025 Karl Malone Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #MaloneAward on X and Instagram.
Follow the Red Raiders: Keep up with Tech men's basketball news at TexasTech.com and at the team's social media on Instagram, X and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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