Matt Babcock, of BabcockHoops.com, predicts Toppin, who averaged 23.0 points in six games in November, will be drafted fourth overall in the first round by the Cleveland Cavaliers in his latest mock draft.
Of Toppin, Babcock wrote, “Here is how I would describe Toppin’s game: At 6-9 with good length, possessing elite athleticism, Toppin not only has prototypical physical attributes, he has the skill set to match, as he does about everything you’d want from a modern day power forward. On the offensive end, he is a threat to score on the low block, and around the rim, he is a good shooter from outside, he runs the floor and is a high flyer — pick your poison. Defensively, he is able to utilize his athleticism and physical tools to defend multiple positions, grab rebounds, and protect the rim.”
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Babock isn't the only one praising Toppin, a redshirt sophomore forward who has two seasons of eligibility remaining after this one. ESPN ranks Toppin as the 13th-best draft prospect.
"With high-level NBA executives sitting courtside for his games at the Maui Invitational, Toppin crashed the 2020 draft lottery conversation," ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz wrote. "Over the course of three games, the 21-year-old redshirt sophomore averaged 22.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 33 minutes on high efficiency. The bouncy, 6-foot-9 big man played with nonstop energy, sprinting the floor, rolling hard to the rim and rotating for blocks all while keeping the ball humming on the perimeter."
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BleacherReport.com also ranked Toppin 13th in their latest look at the top prospects.
“No opponent has had an answer for Toppin so far,” Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman wrote. “Georgia and Virginia Tech looked helpless in Maui. He's returned a more decisive scorer and passer from the post and a confident three-point shooter. Between his power and athleticism, back-to-the-basket game and projectable jump shot, Toppin has quickly developed into one of the draft's most convincing offensive big men.”
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