NCAA Basketball: Top 10 players to wear jersey No. 15 in 2023-24 season
By Joey Loose
7. JT Toppin (New Mexico)
Toppin arrived at New Mexico this past offseason and is coming off a brilliant freshman season. There’s no elaborate story of his previous experience, though you won’t see him playing for the Lobos as a sophomore. Instead, Toppin put his best foot forward and had one of the best freshman years of any mid-major player in the country, aiding New Mexico on a prosperous season.
He wasted no time endearing himself to the Lobos, averaging 12.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks as a full-time starter. Toppin’s total numbers were impressive for any MWC player, let alone a freshman. He led the conference in rebounds, blocked shots, and field goal percentage (62%), nabbing MWC Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-MWC honors. It was also a season that ended in the Big Dance.
Brilliant performances were far from rare, as Toppin had 27 points and 11 rebounds in an early win over Toledo, making all 11 of his 2-point attempts. He had a sea of double-doubles in league play, including a 25-point, 13-rebound effort at Air Force ad nice efforts during a sweep of Nevada. More importantly, Toppin helped take the Lobos to the MWC Tournament title, including a double-double against San Diego State in the title game. He’ll continue his career at Texas Tech next year.