Texas Tech University Athletics
Toppin named to Naismith Player of the Year Watch List
November 03, 2025 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK – JT Toppin will step onto the court tomorrow night for the season opener with a slew of preseason honors to his name. The latest, and arguably the biggest, came today with him being named to the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Men's College Player of the Year Watch List Presented by AXIA Time. A junior forward from Dallas, Toppin earned Consensus Second Team All-America, Big 12 Player of the Year, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team honors last season. Â
Toppin, who is one of 50 on the Naismith Player of the Year Watch List, led the Red Raiders as a sophomore with 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 19 double-doubles - recording 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. The No. 10-ranked Red Raiders are set to open their season at 7 p.m. on Tuesday against Lindenwood at United Supermarkets Arena.
JT TOPPIN PRESEASON HONORS
Associated Press Preseason All-America
Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year
All-Big 12 Preseason Team
Karl Malone Award Watch List
CBS Sports Preseason All-America
The Athletic Preseason All-America
Field of 68 Preseason All-America
NABC Preseason Player of the Year Watch List
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