NCAA Basketball: Top 10 decisions to be made regarding 2019 NBA Draft
9. FR Obi Toppin – Dayton
2018-19 stats: 14.4 ppg 5.6 rpg 1.8 apg
It was an outstanding individual season for Toppin, leading the Flyers in scoring despite playing just 26.5 mpg and coming off the bench half of the season. But Coach Anthony Grant had no choice but to play him more down the stretch, leading the team to an NIT berth.
Toppin averaged 21.8 ppg per 40 minutes on 66% shooting from the field. The 6’9 forward has already shown an all-around game, passing the ball well, rebounding at a high clip and even making 11 of 21 three-pointers this past season. The 2019 A-10 Freshman of the Year had the highest PER and offensive rating in the conference and was an above average defender as well.
It makes sense for him to put his name in the NBA Draft waters to get a better feel on what he needs to improve on. Right now he’s not projected t be drafted but Toppin has a high ceiling going forward. And if he continues to extend his range, the Dayton forward’s stock will marginally improve.
The only slight concern Flyers fans could have about his potential return would be about what kind of role Toppin would have on next season’s team. Not only do he team return five of their top six scorers, Dayton also brings in several high-caliber transfers, including former Nebraska big man Jordy Tshimanga. It’s not for certain that Toppin will have the same kind of impact on a revamped roster.
What he does have going for him is time (three more years of eligibility) and a relationship with Coach Grant that should help him retain his go-to status on offense. If Toppin does come back, Dayton has a real case to being preseason frontrunners in the A-10 and even a top-25 ranking at some point. Without him the team’s ceiling goes down a ton. But odds are good that Toppin will come back after he puts scout on radar for the future.