Kentucky’s Jacob Toppin reverses course on NBA Draft decision

Kentucky Wildcats forward Jacob Toppin decided to withdraw from the NBA Draft a day ahead of the draft deadline, returning to Kentucky in 2022-23. 

It’s not uncommon for highly-talented, NBA-caliber players to declare for the NBA Draft only to change their minds later on. It’s a win-win for all involved: college fans get another year of an elite player, and that player has another season to develop and potentially raise their draft stock.

Kentucky Wildcats forward Jacob Toppin waited until the last minute, but he finally decided that the upcoming season isn’t time for the NBA. It’s time for Banner No. 9.

Toppin announced on Twitter that he plans on returning to Big Blue Nation in the fall, stating that he misses the fans and wants to “run it back one more year.”

Jacob Toppin reverses NBA Draft decision to return to Kentucky Wildcats

If Toppin had declared for the draft, he would have been following in his older brother Obi Toppin’s footsteps. Obi, who now plays for the New York Knicks, played for Dayton from 2018-20.

Jacob now has another year to develop at Kentucky, a perennial March Madness contender and historically one of the best basketball programs in the country. In his junior season, Toppin averaged 6.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 2021-22.

While Toppin is clearly improving with the Wildcats, he could see more starts and drum up more attention ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft. Toppin hit the court in 29 games, but he only started in four of them, and his 17.7-minute average could grow if Toppin fights for a starting role.

Kentucky fans are already looking forward to seeing more of Toppin, who made a beautiful steal as he spiraled toward the basket mid-air.

https://twitter.com/Cats_Coverage/status/1530954737398448129

That’s no surprise, considering Obi showed his skills in this year’s All-Star Game Weekend when he won the Slam Dunk Contest.

Needless to say, Kentucky fans retained an asset this year that can only help them win their ninth NCAA Championship.

For more NCAA basketball news, analysis, opinion and features, check out more from the FanSided college basketball section to stay on top of the latest action.