Texas Tech’s JT Toppin Named to AP All-American

LUBBOCK, TX — Texas Tech forward JT Toppin has been named to the Associated Press All-America Second Team, marking another milestone in a standout season for the sophomore. Toppin, who averages 18.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, earned the honor on Tuesday ahead of the Red Raiders’ NCAA Tournament opener against UNC Wilmington at 9:10 p.m. Thursday in Wichita, Kansas.

This recognition follows his selection to The Sporting News All-America Second Team earlier this month. The USBWA and NABC are set to announce their All-America teams on Wednesday.

AP All-America First Team:

• Cooper Flagg (Duke)
•  Johni Broome (Auburn)
•  Braden Smith (Purdue)
•  Mark Sears (Alabama)
• Walter Clayton (Florida).

AP All-America Second Team:

• JT Toppin (Texas Tech)
• Kam Jones (Marquette)
• John Tonje (Wisconsin)
• PJ Haggerty (Memphis)
• RJ Luis (St. John’s)

AP All-America Third Team:

• Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton)
• Zakai Zeigler (Tennessee)
• Eric Dixon (Villanova)
• LJ Cryer (Houston)
• Hunter Dickinson (Kansas)

Toppin becomes the fifth player in Texas Tech history to earn AP All-America honors, joining Jason Sasser (1996), Andre Emmett (2004), Keenan Evans (2018) and Jarrett Culver (2019).

A Dallas native, Toppin has collected a long list of postseason accolades, including Big 12 Player of the Year, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, All-Big 12 First Team, All-Big 12 Newcomer Team, The Sporting News All-America Second Team, Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team and NABC All-District honors.

In his first season at Texas Tech after transferring from New Mexico, Toppin has led the Red Raiders in multiple statistical categories, including points (18.1), rebounds (9.2), blocks (1.3), and double-doubles (15). His season highlights include a career-high 41 points in a double-overtime win over Arizona State and a season-high 18 rebounds against Saint Joseph’s. He has scored 20 or more points in 14 games this season, including three games with 30 or more.

Toppin and the No. 3 seed Red Raiders (24-9) will tip off their NCAA Tournament campaign against No. 14 seed UNC Wilmington in the first round of the West Region at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita.