Instead of entering his name into the NBA draft and moving on to the professional game, JT Toppin, the best player in Big 12 basketball this past season will be back for another go-round in 2025.
The Texas Tech big man is the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year and First-Team All-American, and he announced on Wednesday that he will return for the Red Raiders in 2025.
Obviously, this is huge news for Grant McCasland and the company, as Toppin gives TTU a major piece around which to build their roster.
Toppin was absolutely dominant in his first year with the Red Raiders, averaging 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. He also averaged a double-double for Texas Tech in the NCAA Tournament, helping lead them to the Elite Eight before bowing out to Florida, the eventual national champions.
Toppin will be joined by Christian Anderson as key players returning for the Red Raiders, making this a team to be reckoned with going forward, even in an incredibly difficult conference.
Texas Tech finished the 2024-25 season with a 28-9 record and finished second in the Big 12 as the only team to hand the Houston Cougars a loss in conference play.
