Texas Tech University Athletics
Toppin named to Wooden Award Midseason Top 25
January 07, 2026 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK – Texas Tech forward JT Toppin has been selected to the John R. Wooden Award 2025-26 Midseason Top 25 Watchlist in a season where he is currently averaging 20.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and leads the Big 12 with nine double-doubles. Toppin earned 2024-25 Big 12 Player of the Year and Consensus Second Team All-America and was chosen for the Wooden Award Midseason list by a poll of national college basketball experts. The list comprises 25 players who are frontrunners for the most prestigious honors in college basketball: the Wooden Award All-American Team™ and the Wooden Award® Most Outstanding Player.
The Los Angeles Athletic Club's John R. Wooden Award, presented by Principal, announced the Midseason top 25 Watchlist on WoodenAward.com, launching the 50th anniversary season of college basketball's most prestigious individual honor.
Toppin is joined on the prestigious list by Darius Acuff (Arkansas), Nate Ament (Tennessee), Cameron Boozer (Duke), Jaden Bradley (Arizona), Mikel Brown (Louisville), Tucker DeVries (Indiana), AJ Dybansta (BYU), Kingston Flemings (Houston), PJ Haggerty (K-State), Thomas Haugh (Florida), Graham Ike (Gonzaga), Josh Jefferson (Iowa State), Alex Karaban (UConn), Trey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue), Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), Tamin Lipsey (Iowa State), Koa Peat (Arizona), Darryn Peterson (Kansas), Labaron Philon (Alabama), Emanuel Sharp (Houston), Braden Smith (Purdue), Bennett Stirtz (Iowa), Bruce Thornton (Ohio State) and Caleb Wilson (North Carolina).
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2026 John R. Wooden Award® Men's Player of the Year. Players not selected for the list remain eligible for inclusion on the Wooden Award® midseason, late-season list, and the National Ballot. The National Ballot will feature 15 top players who have demonstrated to their universities that they meet or exceed the Wooden Award® qualifications. Celebrating its fiftieth year, the Wooden Award will feature special programming throughout the season with first winner and ambassador Marques Johnson, culminating in the 2026 John R. Wooden Award presented by Principal. Winners and All Americans will be honored at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Friday, April 10, 2026.
Toppin, who was named the Big 12 Player of the Week on Monday, recorded his fourth straight double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds at No. 7 Houston on Tuesday night and now has 40 career double-doubles which is currently tied for the second most amongst all active players. A junior from Dallas, Toppin is in his second season at Texas Tech after playing his freshman season at New Mexico. Through 83 career games, Toppin has produced 1,340 points, 788 rebounds, 141 blocked shots and has 64 games scoring in double figures and 45 with double figure rebounding. He is also third amongst all active players in rebounding and 14th in scoring for his career. Toppin and the No. 14-ranked Red Raiders return to action at Colorado on Saturday in Boulder before hosting Utah and BYU next week at United Supermarkets Arena.
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