Texas Tech forward JT Toppin suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Tuesday’s 72-67 loss at Arizona State, ending his season, the university confirmed. The 6-foot-8 junior left the game late in the second half after falling on a fast break while clutching his knee and had to be helped off the court.
Toppin, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, has been the Red Raiders’ leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. At the time of the injury, he had 20 points and eight rebounds, marking his 15th 20-point game this season. His absence creates a significant challenge for Texas Tech, ranked No. 13 with a 19-7 record and 9-4 in Big 12 play, as the team strives to sustain its national championship aspirations after last season’s Elite Eight appearance.
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A Dallas native, Toppin is in his second season with Texas Tech after transferring from New Mexico, where he was Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2023-24. Last season, he earned AP All-America second-team honors, averaging 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks. This past offseason, he opted to return to Texas Tech instead of entering the NBA Draft, signing a $4 million deal, making him one of college basketball’s highest-paid players.
With Toppin sidelined, the Red Raiders will look to sophomore point guard Christian Anderson and other teammates to step up. Texas Tech’s remaining schedule includes home games against Kansas State and Cincinnati, a road trip to No. 6 Iowa State, and final contests against TCU and No. 23 BYU. Toppin still has another season of eligibility, leaving the door open for a potential return next year.
