Toppin returning to Texas Tech next season

Texas Tech forward JT Toppin will return to school for his junior season, he announced on Instagram.

The 19-year-old is expected to collect roughly $4 million in NIL earnings next season, sources told CBS Sports' Matt Norlander.

Toppin is the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year. He averaged 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists across 33 games this season.

He also earned second-team All-America honors and was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in his first season at Texas Tech.

Toppin led the Red Raiders to a second-place finish in the Big 12. They made it to the Elite Eight but fell to the eventual national champion, Florida.

The 6-foot-9 Toppin played his freshman season with New Mexico, winning Mountain West Freshman of the Year.

Toppin and the Red Raiders may be without fellow starting forward Darrion Williams next season, as he entered the transfer portal and declared for the draft.