Texas Tech University Athletics
Anderson, Toppin secure Preseason All-Big 12 Team honors
October 16, 2025 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK – For the first time in program history, Texas Tech has two players on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team.
Christian Anderson and JT Toppin were both selected to the 2025-26 Preseason All-Big 12 Team by the league's head coaches after seasons where they helped lead the Red Raiders to the program's third NCAA Elite Eight appearance. Toppin, who was a unanimous selection, was also named the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year after he earned Big 12 Player of the Year last season. Anderson returns for his sophomore season after earning All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors last season while Tech redshirt junior LeJuan Watts was named the Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.
Joining Anderson and Toppin on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team are: AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Richie Saunders (BYU), Emanuel Sharp (Houston), Joseph Tugler (Houston), Milos Uzan (Houston), Tamin Lipsey (Iowa State), Darryn Peterson (Kansas) and P.J. Haggerty (K-State). Along with Toppin, Dybantsa and Peterson were unanimous selections.
The Red Raiders now have eight players named to a Preseason All-Big 12 Teams with the most recent before Anderson and Toppin being Terrence Shannon, Jr. before the 2021-22 season. Tech has also been represented by Zach Smith (2017-18), Jarrius Jackson (2006-07), Andre Emmett (2003-04 and 2002-03) and Cory Carr (1997-98). The program had 15 Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selections before the conference shifted to a 10-member team and disbanded honorable mention before the 2024-25 season.
Toppin is coming off a sophomore season where he earned consensus all-America, Big 12 Player of the Year, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team honors. He led the Red Raiders with 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 19 double-doubles in his first. He recorded a double-double in all four NCAA Tournament games last season and had a double-double in eight of the last 10 games of the season. Toppin scored a season-high 41 points and added 15 rebounds in a double-overtime win over Arizona State and finished the season scoring in double figures in a team high 28 games – including 15 straight to conclude the season. Within his 19 double-doubles, Toppin recorded three with 30-plus points including going for 32 points and 12 rebounds at Oklahoma State and producing 30 points and 14 rebounds in the home finale against Colorado.
Toppin, who played his freshman season at New Mexico before transferring, enters his third collegiate season with 1,047 points, 636 rebounds, 116 blocks and 31 double-doubles through 69 career games.
Anderson returns from a dynamic freshman season and a successful summer where he represented Germany in the FIBU U19 World Cup. An Atlanta, Georgia native, Anderson earned All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors after averaging 10.6 points, 2.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game. He scored a career-high 22 points against Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 victory and had a career-best six assists in a road win at Kansas in his first collegiate season. A 6-foot-3 guard, Anderson played a reserve role for most of his first season but would be a starter in the final five games. He finished the season scoring 20-or-more points in four games and matched the team-high with 71 3-pointers for the season and led the team with 46 made 3-pointers in conference play.
Over the summer, Anderson helped lead Germany to a silver medal in the FIBA U19 World Cup where he averaged 17.3 points, 6.6 assists and 4.9 rebounds in seven games in Switzerland. He earned All-Star Five honors at the event where he was second in assists and 10th overall in scoring. Anderson scored 29 points in a win over Canada, recorded 12 assists against Switzerland and in the championship game against the USA he had 18 points, nine assists, four steals and five rebounds. Â
Preseason All-Big 12 Team
AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
Richie Saunders, BYU
Emanuel Sharp, Houston
Joseph Tugler, Houston
Milos Uzan, Houston*
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Darryn Peterson, Kansas*
P.J. Haggerty, K-State
Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
JT Toppin, Texas Tech*
*-unanimous selection
Preseason Player of the Year:Â JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Preseason Newcomer of the Year:Â LeJuan Watts, Texas Tech
Preseason Freshman of the Year:Â Darryn Peterson, Kansas
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