JT Toppin was one of the best big men in college basketball this season for Texas Tech. He originally tested the NBA draft waters after a standout freshman year at New Mexico, but when he didn’t get the answer he was looking for, he joined the Red Raiders via the transfer portal for his sophomore season and immediately showed his skillset translated against tougher competition. Toppin was at his best in the NCAA tournament, with three straight 20-point triple-doubles to help Texas Tech reach the Elite Eight.
Toppin was considered a fringe first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and figured to test the process again. Instead, he announced he’s returning to the Red Raiders for his junior year in what seemed like a shocking decision on the surface. Of course, this is all about NIL dollars, and it’s perhaps the greatest example yet of how the new money in college basketball is retaining top talent in the sport.
Toppin is reportedly receiving around $4 million for one season to go back to Texas Tech, according to CBS Sports insider Matt Norlander. That’s almost double the biggest publicly reportedly NIL payment from last offseason.
JT Toppin is expected to be paid ~$4 million in NIL earnings at Texas Tech next season, a source tells CBS Sports. The latest/biggest piece of evidence that reflects how invested TTU is in basketball—and a positive development for the sport to retain a player as great as Toppin.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 9, 2025
Baylor Scheierman was the last pick in the first-round of the 2024 NBA Draft, and he made about $2.5 million this season playing for the Boston Celtics. To get to a $4 million rookie salary last year, you have to go to No. 16 overall pick Jared McCain with the Philaelphia 76ers.
The NIL money flowing through college basketball is disrupting the NBA Draft, and this is proof. While the top players in the draft will still jump to the NBA, it’s the depth of the class that will affected by NIL money. A few years ago, a player like Toppin would feel like a lock to test the NBA waters again without being able to legally make money in college. Now it’s a totally new ballgame.
Toppin is a perfect example of the type of player who can be swayed to stay in college. He’s a bit undersized for an NBA center at 6’9 with a 7’1 wingspan, and he’s not a skilled outside shooter. It’s possible he could have been a late first-round pick, but even then there’s no guarantee his team would pick up the third and fourth years of his rookie contract with a team option. He’s likely not someone looking at cashing in big on a second NBA deal like Cooper Flagg will. Returning to school is a great way to maximize his money now while keeping his options open for the future.
The late first and second round of the 2025 NBA Draft is undeniably going to take a hit thanks to the NIL. The trend has extended to women’s college basketball too, with projected top-2 pick Olivia Miles bypassing the WNBA Draft to transfer to TCU.
It’s already been reported that incoming super freshman A.J. Dybantsa is in line to receive $5 million from BYU in NIL payments. The numbers keep getting bigger every year. We ranked Toppin as the No. 12 overall player in March Madness in 2025. He might start next year as the preseason National Player of the Year favorite.
Money talks, and for once it’s keeping players good enough to play in the NBA at the college level.
