Checking Back in on Jadyn "JT" Toppin, a Star in the Making at New Mexico

Freshman forward JT Toppin has been a consistent force in the Mountain West with his UNM Lobos – what kind of NBA role will he fill should he declare this year?

© Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

When Draft Digest covered Jadyn "JT" Toppin a few weeks ago, he was ranked 12th in the nation in field goal percentage, and since then...nothing has changed: he remains 12th.

The consistency is palpable with Toppin, which just happens to be one of the primary qualities of a highly successful NBA rookie. 

He's essentially kept the numbers static across the board, putting up a very impressive 12.5 points on 63.1% FG, 9.0 boards, and 3.1 stocks (steals + blocks).

Oh by the way, he's doing this in just 26 minutes a game. 

As was mentioned in the last piece, Toppin is a physical prospect with motor, an aggressive combo forward that gets after it on the boards. Additionally, when looking at the most efficient Division I basketball players in the country, look no further than the true freshman from Oak Cliff, TX.

He has a 64.5% true shooting mark, which is the second-best on the team, and he's doing so on 8.5 attempts per game (13.0 per 40 minutes, though his attempts will obviously scale down in the NBA during his early years).

Yet another product of a true basketball factory, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Toppin was an under-recruited forward out of Faith Family Academy. He had few Division I offers, including Sam Houston, Arizona State, and Tulsa, before committing to the New Mexico Lobos and Richard Pitino. 

Since beginning his season there, he has manhandled opponents physically, and in doing so, leads all MWC freshman in several categories, essentially a shoe-in to win the Freshman of the Year Award in the conference. He's won Freshman of the Week nine times already this year, and is a difficult guard no matter the age of the player tasked with defending him.

Another attribute to love about Toppin is the offensive feel – he just knows where to be at the right time. This is a major part of his efficiency and his rebounding numbers, as he's snagging the aforementioned 9.0 boards per game (13.7 rebounds per 40 minutes). 

© Tom R. Smedes/Special to RGJ / USA TODAY NETWORK

Toppin is one of those players whose advanced stats pop as much as the eye test does. He's marked as "Excellent" in Synergy Sports' points per shot metric, where he is in the 97th percentile, averaging an astounding 1.31 PPS. 

His numbers aren't inflated because of transition takes, either – in the half court, Toppin is still putting up 1.28 PPS. The athleticism and strength in the paint translate to the next level, as does his avoidance of low-percentage shots. The 6-foot-9 frame doesn't hurt, either. 

He has a 27.5 PER, an offensive rating of 131.0 (second best on team), and a defensive rating of 93.2 (best on the team). He's a physically dominant player that can truly lock up opponents, as switching 1-through-4 will not be an issue for Toppin, even in the Association. 

Against Boise State, he was clearly the best player on the court, as he scored 21 points on 9-for-12 from the field, adding eight boards (four offensive), a 3-pointer (1-for-1), two free throws (2-for-2), three blocks, and two steals.

"Menace" might be the right word for his defensive prowess, because the length really bothers opposing ball handlers. 

The one thing that Toppin could add to his game that could change everything would be a 3-point shot. He's far from hopeless in that category, already shooting 34.5% on threes this season, but he takes just about one three per game. 

Ideally, Toppin gets this up to three or more deep takes per game, and hits one of them. If he can become a guy with at least a respectable shot from outside, his floor spreading would make him an invaluable offensive player that wouldn't be system dependent. 

Toppin has legitimate first-round pedigree, even in this upcoming draft. The size, the athleticism, the rebounding, the defense, the feel, the efficiency, and even the age (remember, he's just a freshman) make Toppin a player that is more than simply intriguing. 

He is a bonafide star in the making, and his role in the NBA as a defensive combo forward that can snag some boards, gets some efficient buckets, and occasionally hit a 3-point shot, seems readily defined. 

Whether he returns to New Mexico or goes pro remains to be seen, but either way, scouts' eyes will be on JT Toppin for the foreseeable future. 

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