NCAA Basketball: Carey, Winston lead National Player of the Year race

Stats: 19.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.2 apg

At this point, you should’ve heard of Obi Toppin. He nearly led Dayton to a championship at the Maui Invitational and was incredibly impressive doing it, and the Flyers have solidified themselves as a top 20 team thereafter.

Toppin’s size (6-9, 220 lbs), athleticism, and shooting ability makes him a matchup nightmare at the power forward spot, and that combination, along with his high all-around skill level, is why he’ll be a top 10 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Dayton has a lot of really good players, but Toppin’s ability – and the attention opposing defenses have to give him – have been the driving factors behind the Flyers’ elite offense, which ranks third nationally in adjusted efficiency. They’ve ridden Toppin and that offense to a 13-2 record and both losses have come in overtime to teams currently ranked (Kansas, Colorado).

Toppin had so many breakout moments in Maui that he immediately vaulted to the top of this race, and Dayton’s continued team success has kept him right in the mix. That said, he hasn’t been able to put together any marquee moments since. Some of that is due to Dayton’s schedule, but he also had a good-not-great performance in their biggest game since Maui against Colorado.

Opportunities for those moments will likely remain few and far between, so Toppin will have to really capitalize on them whenever they arise. He’s been playing great in the meantime, yet 31 points against North Florida doesn’t mean much in this race, you know? Dayton and Toppin will get their next moment-making opportunity on January 14 against VCU. He needs to have one of his best games against the Rams in order to move up this list.