Texas Tech’s JT Toppin is headed back for 2026-27 after the junior season that was supposed to launch his NBA case instead ended with a torn ACL.
The Red Raiders announced the news Wednesday, July 8, saying in a social media post that their star big man will return to action in 2026-27 after his season was cut short by injury.
Toppin went down on Feb. 17 against Arizona State, when the former New Mexico transfer suffered the ACL tear that ended an otherwise huge year. Even with only 25 games on the books, he still put together an All-American season, landing First-Team AP All-American honors after averaging 21.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. He shot 54.8% from the field and 28.1% from 3-point range.
His 2025-26 run also featured six 30-point double-doubles, with those coming against Arkansas, Illinois, Houston and Arizona.
Across 94 college games and 93 starts, Toppin has averaged 9.6 rebounds and has topped nine boards per game in all three of his seasons. At 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds, he has the kind of frame that fits the four spot at the next level, while also giving a team the option of using him as an undersized five in certain lineups.
What made him so effective at Texas Tech was the connection he built with Christian Anderson in the pick-and-roll. Toppin did a lot of his damage finishing around the rim and in the paint, and Anderson’s presence helped unlock that part of his game. Anderson was selected No. 18 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets.
For Toppin, the NBA fit is pretty clear. He’ll need a reliable playmaker to get the most out of his offense, but he can still bring rebounding, rim finishing and physical defense to a roster. That toughness matters, and it’s one of the reasons he had first-round buzz before the injury.
Before the ACL tear, Toppin looked like a possible first-round pick in the 2026 class. Now, with the injury and his age in the mix, the 2027 NBA Draft may be the more realistic landing spot. Texas Tech didn’t say when he’ll be back on the floor, but if he puts together a strong 2026-27 season, he should put himself into position to be in that draft class.
And if he gets back to the level he showed before the injury, Toppin could end up being exactly the kind of second-round value teams love: a productive, physical role player who can help right away.
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