LUBBOCK – The reigning Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year is this week’s Big 12 Player of the Week.

JT Toppin secured his first Big 12 Player of the Week honor of his junior season after recording his eighth double-double of the season with 23 points and 14 rebounds in Texas Tech’s conference-opening win over Oklahoma State last Saturday at home. Toppin, who also was named to the Big 12 Starting Five for the third time this season, is currently averaging 21.2 points and 10.8 rebounds per game – ranking second in the Big 12 in rebounding and fourth in points. His double-double against Oklahoma State was his third straight after also recording double-doubles in wins over Winthrop and Duke to conclude non-conference play.

Along with his double-double streak going into a Tuesday night matchup at Houston, Toppin has also scored in double figures in 10 straight games and leads the Big 12 with 4.7 offensive rebounds per game and also with 119 made field goals this season. Against Oklahoma State, Toppin was 10-for-19 from the field and 3-of-4 at the free-throw line to eclipse 20-plus points for the seventh time this season and 27th time in his career. Toppin had five offensive rebounds against the Cowboys and is third nationally with his offensive rebounding average. He currently has 39 career double-doubles which is the third most amongst all active players and he enters his 83rd collegiate game with 1,322 points and 777 rebounds. A Dallas, Texas native, Toppin earned Consensus Second Team All-America honors last season along with being named the Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore. He was a two-time Big 12 Player of the Week and three-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week selection last season.

Toppin’s selection as the Big 12 Player of the Week is the third for the Red Raiders after Christian Anderson was named the Big 12 Player of the Week on November 10 and December 22. He is joined on this week’s Big 12 Starting Five by AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Riley Kugel (UCF), Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State) and Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State). Dybantsa was also named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.

Toppin and the Red Raiders are on the road for a pair of games this week, starting against Houston at 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Fertitta Center before traveling to play Colorado on Saturday night in Boulder. Tech, which is 8-0 at home this season, will then host Utah (Jan. 14) and BYU (Jan. 17) for a two-game homestand.

Big 12 Player of the Week

Nov. 10 – Koa Peat, Arizona & Christian Anderson, Texas Tech

Nov. 17 – Kingston Flemings, Houston

Nov. 24 – P.J. Haggerty, K-State

Dec. 1 – Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State

Dec. 8 – Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State

Dec. 15 – Melvin Council Jr., Kansas

Dec. 22 – Christian Anderson, Texas Tech

Dec. 30 – AJ Dybantsa, BYU

Jan. 5 – JT Toppin, Texas Tech 

 

Big 12 Newcomer of the Week

Nov. 10 – Koa Peat, Arizona

Nov. 17 – Kingston Flemings, Houston

Nov. 24 – Koa Peat, Arizona

Dec. 1 – Moe Odum, Arizona State

Dec. 8 – Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor

Dec. 15 – Melvin Council Jr., Kansas

Dec. 22 – LeJuan Watts, Texas Tech

Dec. 30 – AJ Dybantsa, BYU

Jan. 5 – AJ Dybantsa, BYU

 

Big 12 Starting Five:

AJ Dybantsa, BYU (newcomer)

Riley Kugel, UCF

Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State

Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State

JT Toppin, Texas Tech (player)

Follow the Red Raiders: Keep up with Texas Tech men’s basketball news at TexasTech.com and at the team’s social media on Instagram, X and Facebook.