Jacob Toppin is coming to Kentucky to be a Wildcat after spending a season playing at Rhode Island. For those counting at home that is the second transfer that Kentucky has landed recently with their eyes set on possibly adding another transfer to bolster the frontcourt next season. Toppin is the younger brother of Naismith National Player of the Year, Obi Toppin of Dayton. Toppin will be joining the program, but unless the NCAA votes to allow a new immediate eligibility rule for transfers, the young forward will have to sit out the 2020-2021 season.
Toppin stands at 6-foot-8-inches and 190 pounds. Originally out of Brooklyn, NY, the young forward was able to average 5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in his first season in college. After entering the transfer portal this past Monday, the recruitment came fairly quickly. The finalists for Toppin’s potential destination included the Cats, Oregon, and Iowa State. Toppin made the announcement official on Twitter and the Kentucky Men’s Basketball Twitter page made an announcement with a comparison to former Wildcat, Kevin Knox.
C O M M I T T E D #GodsPlan pic.twitter.com/7Xao992RiW
— Jtoppin_21 (@Jtoppin21) April 16, 2020
? | #LaFamilia pic.twitter.com/2QGTSwzKol
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) April 16, 2020
While Toppin will have some developing to do before comparisons to his brother or the likes of Kevin Knox, a lottery pick, will begin to take shape Coach John Calipari must be excited to land this new addition. If Toppin is declared eligible for this season it will be a big boost to the seemingly empty frontcourt next season, and if not then having him stored away for 2021-2022 should help prevent a lack of depth down low in that season. Jacob Toppin will have three years of eligibility left whenever he does end up playing for Kentucky and will help in practices even if his presence isn’t felt in games.
