[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2025 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

JT Toppin
Frame: 6’9″, 225 lbs
Position: Forward
Team: Texas Tech Red Raiders
2025 Draft Age: 20
Stats via https://wwwww.sports-reference.com

Offense

After a successful freshman campaign at the University of New Mexico and impressing at the 2024 NBA combine, Toppin returned to college for a second season, where he has been the best player on a top-tier BIG 12 team. Toppin has grown most as a back-to-the-basket scorer. The lefty has learned to use his size and physicality to his advantage, throwing shoulders and getting his defenders leaning typically on their left shoulder, where he can then spin to his left shoulder and finish with a hook or floater with said hand.

Toppin is exclusively a left-handed finisher. Even when shooting on the right side of the basket, Toppin will use his left hand to shoot an inside-handed layup, which may be a concern moving forward. He also added a drop step as the go-to move in his repertoire. He operates primarily in or around the high left block, where he can get to his array of moves to score. This season, Toppin is shooting 49.0 percent on two-point attempts away from the rim on 98 attempts while being assisted on 52.1 percent of these shots. 

Toppin is a capable screen setter and roll man. He does a good job planting his outermost foot and using his size to make it difficult for opposing guards or defensive players to get through him. Toppin has good hands when rolling to the rim. While he isn’t a high flyer, Toppin will get up to catch a lob when the opportunity presents itself. He prefers to catch passes around the rim and plant himself before rising for a finish with his left hand. Out of the short roll, Toppin displays his touch with push shots and floaters or drive and finish with finesse, shooting 72.2 percent at the rim on 72 attempts while being assisted on 59.6 percent of these looks. 

His three-point jumper remains the offensive swing skill for Toppin to stick at the next level. Having flashed a perimeter shot during his freshman season and at the NBA combine, Toppin shot 26.3 percent on 19 attempts (all assisted). He has a squared base and high release; however, a hitch in his windup, where he catches the ball and brings it down before rising, causes him to lose fluidity and makes it inconsistent. This is most evident at the free throw line, where his hitch winding up is more prominent and reflected in his performance there, shooting 70.3 percent on 64 attempts this season and 62.2 percent on 148 attempts overall for the past two seasons combined.

Defense

Toppin is a versatile defensive piece that thrives at switching onto the perimeter to guard ball handlers. Despite how big he is, he has quick feet, which allows him to match the offensive player stride for stride. His length and size make it difficult for smaller players to deal with and get around. Toppin gives the Red Raiders a different look defensively, switching onto guards in pick-and-roll situations. Toppin can also play in drop coverage, having good timing and instincts when contesting a shot, which translates to Toppin’s weak-side defense, where he can erase shot attempts at the rim. He gets off the ground in these situations, which helps him alter shots even if his timing is off. Toppin doesn’t get caught falling asleep off-ball much, as he is usually involved in actions or telling his teammates where to move or rotate. He averages 1.1 blocks per game, with a block percentage of 5.3 percent, and can pick off the occasional pass weak side, averaging 0.8 steals with a steal percentage of 2.1 percent. 

An area of defensive weakness for Toppin is his strength and positioning in the post. He can be pushed off the block and moved by big forwards or centers, resulting in a foul being called on Toppin as he tries to overcompensate to regain ground. This contrasts his excellent positioning as a defensive rebounder, with 5.5 of his 8.4 rebounds coming on the defensive end, and has a defensive rebound percentage of 26.5. Toppin has a good feel for where the ball will be, and his good motor skills and willing physicality make him a strong asset on the glass. 

Looking Ahead

Toppin is a big forward with a versatile defensive skillset that lets him switch out on the perimeter guard in space and protect the rim off the ball. He is a talented scorer down low who has made significant strides in that area. However, his NBA fit is a question due to his reliance on the post to score, and flawed mechanics in his jumper raise questions about how he will fit into an NBA offense. 

Toppin projects as an early second-round pick (with potential as a late first) and a rotational forward, with upside as a low-tier starter if he can adjust his jump shot.