JT Toppin had 26 points and 10 rebounds to lift No. 9 Texas Tech to a 76-74 victory over Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals.

JT Toppin, a 6-foot-9 forward, is rapidly growing into a well-known figure in college basketball for his on-court prowess and his high NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) value. His growth from a standout freshman at the University of New Mexico to a significant player at Texas Tech demonstrates his growing athletic and financial prominence.

JT Toppin was named player and newcomer of the year to headline the Texas Tech basketball team's all-Big 12 honors.

Texas Tech sophomore forward JT Toppin has been selected by Big 12 coaches as the league’s player and newcomer of the year. The awards were announced Monday.

Toppin is the second Texas Tech player to earn Big 12 Player of the Year, following Jarrett Culver who was named the 2018-19 Big 12 Player of the Year also during his sophomore season. He is also the second Red Raider to earn Big 12 Newcomer of the Year with Mac McClung taking the honor in the 2020-21 season.

A few weeks ago, while preparing to be the sideline reporter on an Arizona State-Texas Tech game, I was asked by a producer whom I believed should be the Big 12 Player of the Year. I had to think for a second.

The panel voted Texas Tech's impact transfer, J.T. Toppin, as the Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Year. Houston's Kelvin Sampson and Texas Tech's Grant McCasland shared the honor of Big 12 Coach of the Year.

JT Toppin posted his 14th double-double of the season with 25 points and 11 rebounds in No. 9 Texas Tech's 85-57 victory Saturday night over Arizona State at Tempe, Ariz., in the regular-season finale for both teams.