Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

JT Toppin quickly earned attention for the relentless energy he brings around the basket, regularly making an impact through rebounding, hustle plays, and physicality. His rapid development at the college level turned him into one of the more promising young forwards to watch.

Here’s the information about JT Toppin:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Jadyn Toppin
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: June 14, 2005
  • Hometown: Dallas, Texas, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m)
  • Weight: 225 lbs (102 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 10 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 (US)
  • Number: Wears #15
  • Position: Power Forward / Small Forward
  • High School: Faith Family Academy of Oak Cliff (Dallas, Texas)
    • Led the team to two state championships in 2022 and 2023.
  • College:
    • University of New Mexico (2023–2024): As a freshman, averaged 12.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. Named Mountain West Freshman of the Year and earned Second-team All-Mountain West honors.
    • Texas Tech University (2024–present): Transferred to Texas Tech after his freshman year at New Mexico.
  • NBA Draft: Not yet eligible; currently playing college basketball.
  • Teams Played For: N/A
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: None
  • Siblings: Has three siblings.

Player Archetype / Play Style

JT Toppin’s player archetype is that of a high-motor interior forward, the sort of frontcourt piece who changes possessions with rebounding, rim pressure, and defensive activity. He is built with a strong 6-foot-9 frame and good pop, and that combination shows up in the way he plays through contact, gets off the floor quickly, and covers ground better than a lot of power forwards his size. On offense, his best work comes around the basket as a finisher, roller, cutter, and second-chance scorer, with his feel for timing and effort on the glass giving him a steady source of points. Defensively, he looks most comfortable as an active help defender who can protect the lane, switch in spots, and use his length and mobility to bother both interior players and smaller matchups. The overall style is pretty clear: Toppin brings energy, toughness, and athleticism first, making him the kind of forward who can tilt games without needing plays called for him. (Sports Business Classroom)

Scouting Report

JT Toppin has a knack for finding the ball before anyone else seems to know where it’s going. That isn’t luck; it’s anticipation mixed with constant movement around the paint. He creates a surprising amount of offense simply by beating defenders to rebounds, ducking into early post seals before the defense is organized or slipping behind help defenders who lose sight of him for a split second. When he catches on the move, he finishes with touch and balance instead of trying to power through every contest, and that’s a big part of why he’s productive around the basket. The interesting thing is that he’s more comfortable making quick decisions than holding the ball. Give him a second and he’s effective. Ask him to create from a standstill and the possession becomes much less efficient because his handle and face-up game aren’t built to generate separation against set defenders. Defensively, he covers ground well enough to hedge or briefly switch before recovering to the paint, and he has a feel for sliding across as the low man to challenge shots without completely abandoning his own assignment. The trade-off comes when stronger centers establish deep position or when stretch bigs force him into repeated closeouts well beyond the arc, where his footwork can become hurried. To me, his best role is next to a lead guard who constantly pressures the rim, allowing Toppin to thrive as a screener, short-roll finisher and relentless second-chance producer rather than asking him to manufacture offense in isolation. It’s easy to overlook how many extra possessions he creates because they rarely come from designed actions; they come from reading the flight of the ball, reacting first and refusing to stay stationary. That’s a skill that consistently translates. His game has elements of Kenneth Faried in the way he attacks the glass and scores through activity, while there are flashes of Paul Millsap’s interior timing and touch, even if Toppin relies more heavily on movement than polished one-on-one scoring.

Sources:

Texas Tech Red Raiders — JT Toppin – Men’s Basketball – Texas Tech Red Raiders
Sports Business Classroom — Scouting Texas Tech Forward JT Toppin
Babcock Hoops — 2026 NBA Draft: JT Toppin Scouting Report
NBADraftRoom — JT Toppin