While it’s no secret that the Big 12 Conference is the nation’s premier basketball league with some of the best athletes in the world, two league members have ascended above the rest.
Those two are Kansas center Hunter Dickinson and Texas Tech forward JT Toppin, who both have put together early cases for the Wooden Award.
In a recent list from On3’s Jamie Shaw, Dickinson, and Toppin were both listed among the nation’s Top 10 players in all of college basketball.
“Not only has Hunter Dickinson been the best player on the best team so far this season, he has also been at his best in their biggest games,” Shaw said. “The 7-footer had 28 and 12 against Michigan State and 20 and 10 against UNC. Both games Kansas won. While this list is based on play this season, Dickinson has scored 2,297 career points and grabbed 1,200 career rebounds.”
Dickinson’s inspired play earned him the No. 3 spot on the list, trailing Auburn’s Johni Broome and Marquette’s Kam Jones, while Toppin earned the No. 7 spot, four places behind his Big 12 counterpart.
“JT Toppin seems to be a magnet for the ball,” Shaw said. “The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 3.5 stocks (steals + blocks) per game this season while cleaning up on the boards. He is efficient around the basket and does a lot with the minutes he is playing (26.5 per game). Texas Tech is on the doorstep of a top-25 ranking, and he is leading the 5-1 Red Raiders in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks through the first six games.”
While it’s way too early to put serious stock into players fighting for the Wooden Award, Dickinson and Toppin absolutely deserve the praise they’re receiving in 2024-25.
