WATCH: Wildcats forward Jacob Toppin announces return to Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats forward Jacob Toppin has announced that he will be returning to Kentucky basketball for the 2022-2023 season. Toppin announced his return to the school with an impassioned video message which can be seen below.
The Wildcats junior forward is the younger brother of New York Knicks highflyer Obi Toppin. With the Wildcats, Toppin typically provides a heavy dose of energy for their second unit. In his two years at the program, he has played in 53 games and started in six.
Last season was Toppin’s best statical season at Kentucky. He averaged 6.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, and he did that while shooting 55.6 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range, and 74.5 percent from the free-throw line. Toppin spent his first year at Rhode Island before transferring to Kentucky for his sophomore and junior campaigns.
With Toppin returning to the team, head coach John Calipari has a much-needed veteran presence in the locker room as Kentucky will attempt to redeem themselves from a lackluster showing in the Men’s NCAA tournament. Kentucky, a two-seed, got bounced out in the opening round by Saint Peters 85-79.
Toppin joins Oscar Tshiebwe, Sahvir Wheeler, Daimion Collins, Lance Ware and CJ Fredrick back in Lexington, with Cason Wallace, Chris Livingston, Antonio Reeves and Adou Thiero being the new faces.
Kentucky expected to hire Oklahoma associate head coach KT Turner
The Wildcats are expected to hire Oklahoma associate head coach KT Turner as their newest assistant coach, according to KSR’s Matt Jones. Turner spent last year on the Sooners’ bench under first-year coach Porter Moser after one year with Texas and seven years with SMU.
It’s a big hire for John Calipari, who lost assistant Jai Lucas to Duke earlier this offseason. Now, he’s set to bring in Turner to help fill that void.
Kentucky is coming off a 26-8 overall record in 2021-22, including 14-4 in SEC play. The Wildcats were a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but saw their season come to an abrupt end against No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s in the round of 64.
Oklahoma went 19-16 overall and 7-11 in Big 12 play in the first year of the Moser era. The Sooners were one of the last four out of the NCAA Tournament and were a No. 1 seed in the NIT. They fell to Saint Bonaventure in the second round.