JT Toppin was the most effective huge males in faculty basketball this season for Texas Tech. He initially examined the NBA draft waters after a standout freshman yr at New Mexico, however when he didn’t get the reply he was searching for, he joined the Crimson Raiders by way of the switch portal for his sophomore season and instantly confirmed his skillset translated in opposition to harder competitors. Toppin was at his greatest within the NCAA match, with three straight 20-point triple-doubles to assist Texas Tech attain the Elite Eight.
Toppin was thought of a fringe first-round choose within the 2025 NBA Draft, and figured to check the method once more. As an alternative, he introduced he’s returning to the Crimson Raiders for his junior yr in what appeared like a stunning choice on the floor. In fact, that is all about NIL {dollars}, and it’s maybe the best instance but of how the brand new cash in faculty basketball is retaining prime expertise within the sport.
Toppin is reportedly receiving round $4 million for one season to return to Texas Tech, in response to CBS Sports activities insider Matt Norlander. That’s virtually double the most important publicly reportedly NIL cost from final offseason.
JT Toppin is anticipated to be paid ~$4 million in NIL earnings at Texas Tech subsequent season, a supply tells CBS Sports activities. The most recent/greatest piece of proof that displays how invested TTU is in basketball—and a optimistic improvement for the game to retain a participant as nice as Toppin.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 9, 2025
Baylor Scheierman was the final choose within the first-round of the 2024 NBA Draft, and he made about $2.5 million this season enjoying for the Boston Celtics. To get to a $4 million rookie wage final yr, you need to go to No. 16 general choose Jared McCain with the Philaelphia 76ers.
The NIL cash flowing by means of faculty basketball is disrupting the NBA Draft, and that is proof. Whereas the highest gamers within the draft will nonetheless leap to the NBA, it’s the depth of the category that may affected by NIL cash. Just a few years in the past, a participant like Toppin would really feel like a lock to check the NBA waters once more with out having the ability to legally earn cash in faculty. Now it’s a completely new ballgame.
Toppin is an ideal instance of the kind of participant who will be swayed to remain in faculty. He’s a bit undersized for an NBA heart at 6’9 with a 7’1 wingspan, and he’s not a talented exterior shooter. It’s attainable he may have been a late first-round choose, however even then there’s no assure his workforce would choose up the third and fourth years of his rookie contract with a workforce possibility. He’s possible not somebody cashing in huge on a second NBA deal like Cooper Flagg will. Returning to highschool is an effective way to maximise his cash now whereas preserving his choices open for the long run.
The late first and second spherical of the 2025 NBA Draft is undeniably going to take a success due to the NIL. The pattern has prolonged to ladies’s faculty basketball too, with projected top-2 choose Olivia Miles bypassing the WNBA Draft to switch to TCU.
It’s already been reported that incoming tremendous freshman A.J. Dybantsa is in line to obtain $5 million from BYU in NIL funds. The numbers preserve getting larger yearly. We ranked Toppin because the No. 12 general participant in March Insanity in 2025. He may begin subsequent yr because the preseason Nationwide Participant of the 12 months favourite.
Cash talks, and for as soon as it’s preserving gamers ok to play within the NBA on the faculty degree.