Blockbuster Return: Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin Shocks NBA Scouts, Turns Down 2025 Draft for Record-Breaking $4M NIL Deal to Stay at Texas Tech — Red Raiders Star Now Front-Runner for National Player of the Year in College Basketball’s New NIL Era
April 16, 2025 – Lubbock, TX — In one of the most dramatic decisions of the offseason, JT Toppin, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, has officially announced that he will return to Texas Tech for his junior season, rejecting what many believed would be a guaranteed first-round selection in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The reason? A record-shattering NIL deal worth $4 million, making Toppin the highest-paid player in college basketball through name, image, and likeness agreements.
The move not only sends shockwaves across the NCAA landscape—it redefines the possibilities of what staying in college can offer elite athletes in the NIL era.
Toppin, who averaged 19.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game during the 2024–25 season, was widely projected as a lottery pick. But according to sources close to his camp, Toppin prioritized continued development, loyalty to Texas Tech, and the unmatched opportunities now available in college athletics.
“Texas Tech gave me everything I needed to grow,” Toppin said in a statement. “Now I want to finish what we started. Lubbock is home, and we’ve got unfinished business.”
The $4 million NIL package, facilitated through a network of local sponsors and a Red Raider-focused collective, includes endorsement deals, apparel partnerships, media appearances, and a significant equity opportunity with a rising Texas-based brand. It nearly doubles the previous highest-known public NIL deal.
Texas Tech fans erupted on social media, flooding platforms with celebratory posts under hashtags like #ToppinTime and #RunItBackTTU. The buzz is already translating into season ticket spikes and merchandise pre-orders.
Beyond the hype, Toppin’s return cements the Red Raiders as a top contender heading into the 2025–26 season. Analysts now peg Texas Tech as a preseason Top 5 team, with Toppin a clear favorite for National Player of the Year and the Wooden Award.
This decision isn’t just about one player. It symbolizes a monumental shift in college athletics. The age-old debate of “college vs. pro” has new depth—and for JT Toppin, the choice was clear.
