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Jacob Toppin, the brother of National Player of the Year Obi Toppin, has announced his transfer to the Kentucky Wildcats.
Toppin was a three-star recruit in the class of 2019 and is not eligible to play next season due to transfer rules. However, if the NCAA passes the new one-time transfer rule, we could see him suit up next season. Either way, Toppin’s commitment is seen as more of a project plan over the next few years.
Toppin will be able to practice with the team and get a feel for the play-style and program.
Here’s what social media and the Big Blue Nation had to say about Toppin’s decision:
C O M M I T T E D #GodsPlan pic.twitter.com/7Xao992RiW
— Jtoppin_21 (@Jtoppin21) April 16, 2020
Obi Toppin’s younger brother, Jacob, has announced he is transferring to Kentucky
— Bleacher Report CBB (@br_CBB) April 16, 2020
Jacob spent last season as a freshman at Rhode Island pic.twitter.com/mTUmGZDU5L
— Phillip Ervin Stan (Coronavirus Hater) (@PhillipErvinFan) April 16, 2020
| #LaFamilia pic.twitter.com/2QGTSwzKol
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) April 16, 2020
Jacob Toppin had as many double-figure games vs. SEC opponents (2) as Johnny Juzang or EJ Montgomery had last season. Montgomery had 3 in 2 full seasons.
— Jason Marcum (@marcum89) April 16, 2020
Jacob Toppin draws the Kevin Knox comparison from the UK staff. https://t.co/PGzMNP72JH
— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) April 16, 2020
"He’s like Obi in the sense that he is a late bloomer that (could use) such a sitout year to improve at a rapid rate. I’m not saying he will be just like his brother, but he should return to the floor looking nothing like what he was at Rhode Island." https://t.co/pdcLuTSEKy
— Ben Roberts (@BenRobertsHL) April 16, 2020
This could be a super intriguing developmental prospect: 6-8 Rhode Island transfer, coming off solid freshman season, brother of late-blooming National POY Obi Toppin. https://t.co/xWnMiH0J3a
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) April 16, 2020
Coach Cal has evolved and I love it.
— Hey Kentucky! (@hey_kentucky) April 16, 2020
Interesting decision by Calipari to take Toppin. I think it shows he is looking to add some experienced depth in future years
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) April 16, 2020
The two quickest and most under the radar recruitments of the John Calipari era just happened within a week between Davion Mintz and Jacob Toppin.
— Jason Marcum (@marcum89) April 16, 2020
Obi Toppin's younger brother Jacob commits to UK. Regular transfer... will have to sit out a year unless rule changes. Averaged 5 pts/game as freshman at Rhode Island. https://t.co/oAd18GoLrP
— Lachlan McLean (@LachTalk) April 16, 2020
Those are better freshman numbers than another freshman who just transferred away from UK and everyone was eager for him to return. https://t.co/eN4RIqbwvm
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) April 16, 2020
Jacob Toppin committing to UK is good news. Will he be a superstar? Probably not, but he has obvious potential but even if he amounts to a bench/role player for UK that’s what the Cats need.
— T.J. Walker (@TJWalkerRadio) April 16, 2020
And if he doesn’t get eligible for this season he’ll hit the ground running in 21-22.
Jacob Toppin will be an excellent rim-runner for the Cats. Great speed, awareness, and athleticism. Excellent pick-up for the Cats. #BBN
— Big Blue Nation (@BigBlue9ation) April 16, 2020
pic.twitter.com/vTzLBCC4vB
If the one-time transfer rule passes, Jacob Toppin will be eligible at Kentucky in this fall. He has three years of eligibility remaining. A very solid addition to the program.
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) April 16, 2020
People making fun of Jacob Toppin averaging 5 points per game is laughable. Not everyone comes into college and averages 25 right away. Not saying Jacob will develop like this at all so don't twist my words, but Buddy Hield averaged 7.8 a game his freshman year for reference.
— Jake Adkins (@jakefromky) April 16, 2020
If the NBA does start taking the top ten HS guys, John Calipari sure does seem like he's prepared for that.
— Jesse Riffe (@JesseRiffe) April 16, 2020
Rhode Island transfer Jacob Toppin has committed to Kentucky. Never understood why John Calipari never took sit out transfers, but times are changing. Athletic wing, could develop into a really good SEC player a year from now https://t.co/43lfrosm0b
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) April 16, 2020
Whether he's immediately eligible or not, Jacob Toppin, along with Kentucky's six 2020 signees and Creighton grad transfer Davion Mintz, gives John Calipari 10 scholarship players on his roster for next season.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) April 16, 2020
Thought on the Jacob Toppin/Kentucky news: BJ Boston + Terrence Clarke are both rock stars on the wing. Would be hard to replace both via HS recruiting. In Toppin, you get some facsimile of one, that is experienced and will have practiced against those dudes for a year. Like it
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) April 16, 2020
I love the addition of Jacob Toppin for Kentucky.
— Travis Graf (@TravGraf_Rivals) April 16, 2020
Low risk, high reward.
’Should’ be a multi-year guy who will be given time to develop.
Won’t scare off elite players for a year or two.
Calipari is using all of his scholarships.
WE HAVE TOO MANY PLAYERS THAT LEAVE EARLY!!!
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) April 16, 2020
WHY ARE WE TAKING FOUR YEAR PLAYERS!!!! https://t.co/4Wztugq69G
I really like Jacob Toppin's potential as a positionless player under John Calipari. Small-ball 5. Stretch 4. Big wing. Gotta bulk up though. Would temper expectations for next season (I think transfer rule will pass and he'll play 10-15 minutes per game).
— Jason Marcum (@marcum89) April 16, 2020
Jacob’s physical transformation over the last two years is not unlike his brother’s but IF he ends up being able to help Kentucky, patience is going to be required. https://t.co/MAcMYuRRDV
— Adam Finkelstein (@AdamFinkelstein) April 16, 2020
Obi Toppin redshirted his first year at Dayton and then did this the last two years. His kid brother played as a true freshman and apparently had the exact same growth spurt as Obi at the same time ... pic.twitter.com/zahSnnQlf9
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) April 16, 2020
New Kentucky commit Jacob Toppin (@Jtoppin21) highlights from this season! pic.twitter.com/DgFgSMOymf
— Kentucky Wildcats Breakdown (@GoCatsBreakdown) April 16, 2020
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