Another Starting Five honor cements Toppin as Tech’s engine and a national star.
The national spotlight isn't flickering on JT Toppin; it's getting brighter by the week.
Texas Tech's star forward added another milestone to his growing body of work, earning his second Big 12 Starting Five honor of the season as the Red Raiders hold firm at No. 19 in the national rankings.
At this point, the recognition feels less like a surprise and more like a routine confirmation of who's driving Tech’s success.
Toppin's latest nod was powered by a dominant performance that demanded attention.
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In Saturday's neutral-site showdown against Arkansas at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, the junior forward delivered one of the most complete games of the season.
He poured in 30 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and swatted three shots, controlling the paint from the opening tip to the final whistle.
Shooting 14-of-22 from the field, Toppin repeatedly punished single coverage and lived on the offensive glass, collecting seven offensive rebounds that created constant second-chance opportunities for the Red Raiders.
That type of night has become the standard.
Toppin currently leads the Big 12 in rebounding at 11.4 boards per game and ranks second in scoring at 21.8 points per contest. On the national stage, his impact is just as loud—he sits fifth nationally in rebounds and seventh in scoring, numbers that place him squarely among the elite players in college basketball, regardless of conference.
The accolades aren't new.
Entering the season as the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, Toppin wasted no time justifying the hype. His first Big 12 Starting Five honor came after a monster road performance at Illinois, where he exploded for 35 points and 11 rebounds, announcing that Texas Tech's offense would revolve around his ability to dominate mismatches.
That dominance traces back to last season, when Toppin earned Consensus Second Team All-America honors, Big 12 Player of the Year, and Big 12 Newcomer of the Year recognition.
He averaged 18.2 points and 9.4 rebounds, recorded 19 double-doubles, and saved his best work for March. Toppin posted a double-double in all four NCAA Tournament games, highlighted by a career night with 41 points and 15 rebounds in a double-overtime thriller against Arizona State.
This week's Big 12 Starting Five reflects the league's star power, with Toppin joined by Brayden Burries (Arizona), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Melvin Council (Kansas), and Honor Huff (West Virginia).
But few are matching Toppin's consistency or impact.
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Now, the focus shifts forward. Texas Tech has just three non-conference games remaining, starting Tuesday night against Northern Colorado at United Supermarkets Arena, where the Red Raiders will look to extend their dominant home run.
That tune-up leads directly into a marquee national moment - No. 19 Texas Tech at No. 3 Duke, under the lights at Madison Square Garden.
For JT Toppin, it's just another stage and another chance to prove he belongs at the center of college basketball's biggest conversations.