Texas Tech NBA Draft Prospect Elects to Return to School

The Texas Tech Red Raiders Have Seen NBA Draft prospect JT Toppin head back to school rather than the NBA.

Mar 26, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders forward JT Toppin (15) shoots the basketball during NCAA Tournament West Regional Practice at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

The 2025 NBA Draft conversation is heating up as the college season came to a close this week. One of the biggest storylines around this class is the depth and talent that litters the field. After a widely accepted weak draft class of 2024, the 2025 NBA Draft has not just top-end star power but NBA contributors that can be found deep into the second round.

However, that depth takes a bit of a hit on Wednesday as the Texas Tech Red Raiders earned a big offseason win. It was revealed on Tuesday that star forward JT Toppin would be heading back to school for Junior season.

Toppin was a standout as New Mexico before making the jump to the Big 12 –– arguably the second best conference in the Nation –– and continued to tear it up at that level with the 28-9 Red Radiers who made the elite eight game before losing a heartbreaker to the eventual champion Florida Gators.

The NBA Draft prospect was the Big 12 player of the year, All-Big 12, All-Region and an All American on the heels of being the Mountain West conference Player of the Year.

Toppin averaged 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 2.3 stocks (steals + blocks) per game while shooting 55% from the floor, 32% from beyond the arc and 67% from the charity stripe.

In the world of NIL, it makes sense that the now big spending Texas Tech program can keep Toppin from entering the NBA Draft. In his junior season, he should be able to continue developing his game; Most notably from beyond the arc.