Jacob Toppin declares for NBA Draft, forgoes college eligibility
Kentucky forward Jacob Toppin is ready to take the next step of his basketball journey, declaring for the NBA Draft and signing with an agent, forgoing the remainder of his eligibility. The senior standout’s time as a Wildcat comes to a close after three years in Lexington, his final campaign being the most productive. He finished his final season averaging 12.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 31.5 minutes per contest.
“Before we even start, I want to thank God, because without Him none of this would be possible. I want to thank my mom, because without her sacrifice my brother and I would not be the men we are today. I want to thank all my family and friends for supporting me along this journey.
“To Big Blue Nation, ever since I was a kid, it’s always been a dream of mine to play at the highest level of basketball. I came to Kentucky to chase that dream and in my time here, I’ve grown tremendously not only as a player but as a man.
“This place has taught me things that I will take with me for the rest of my life. For that, I want to thank my coaches and my teammates and most importantly the fans. Your support and passion are things I’ll never forget and I will carry with me. It has been a memorable time for me and Kentucky will forever hold a special place in my heart.
“I’ve loved my time here, but I’m ready to finally fulfill my lifelong dream of playing in the NBA. With that being said I will be entering my name into the 2023 NBA Draft. Go Big Blue!”
It was a career of steady growth, starting as an all-potential transfer from Rhode Island in 2020 before emerging as one of the Wildcats’ most valuable assets down the stretch of his final season. He would finish the year with 12 games of 15-plus points, 23 games of five-plus rebounds and 11 games of three-plus assists. His biggest performances came in a 21-point, four-rebound effort at Arkansas, a 19-point, 11-rebound finish at Florida and an 18-point, six-rebound outing vs. Providence. His back-to-back 24- and 21-point efforts vs. Louisville and LSU, respectively, were certainly a blast, as well.
“I’m excited for Jacob to take this next step of chasing his dream of becoming a professional player,” UK head coach John Calipari said. “Jacob has steadily improved every season and is ready for this next step. He has all of the tools to be successful in that league and is mentally prepared beyond measure to handle anything that comes his way.”
Toppin would close out his career averaging 8.3 points and 4.7 rebounds over the course of three seasons in Lexington. Before that, the Brooklyn native put up 5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in his freshman year at Rhode Island.
Physically, the 6-foot-9 forward is a living, breathing matchup nightmare. He boasts a 45-inch vertical and is a highlight play waiting to happen, a dynamic lob-catcher and finisher around the basket. And then there’s the face-up game, working to show off his shot-making abilities from the mid-range and deep – he finished SEC play shooting over 40% from beyond the arc. There’s plenty to work with for an NBA team looking to take a flier on a high-ceiling piece with very clear pro tools.
Toppin’s off-court growth, though, was the most refreshing part of his story at Kentucky. Calipari referred to him as a 12-year-old leading up to the season – a talented, but immature player. He worked hard in the gym fighting for a breakthrough, but couldn’t convert that to game production, leading to “rock bottom.” The senior forward opened up about his mental health struggles and the dark place he found himself midway through the year, as vulnerable as any Wildcat in recent memory. Those personal lows led to fruitful highs the back half of the season, a well-deserved reward.
Now, Toppin is ready to bet on himself as a pro after three years of ups and downs in Lexington, four total at the collegiate level.
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