Jacob Toppin has become a dependable scorer and rebounder for No. 23 Kentucky. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Possibly the one player not getting quite enough credit for Kentucky’s turnaround that has the Cats back to No. 23 in the Associated Press rankings, in position for a double bye in the SEC Tournament and a No. 6 seed in the latest NCAA Tournament bracketology is senior Jacob Toppin.
When Kentucky was not playing well earlier, part of the reason was Toppin. He was not the relentless rebounder and defender most thought he would be. He was taking — and missing — too may 3-point shots.
Toppin admitted after UK’s win over Louisville when he scored 24 points (he had been through a four-game stretch where he scored only 13 points on 5-for-20 shooting) that he had hit “rock bottom” mentally. However, he’s rebounded in a big way not only statistically but also as a leader.
He is averaging 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this year and has been in double figures the last 12 games and 14 of the last 16. He didn’t have a double-double his first three collegiate seasons but has seven this year — and UK has won all seven games. He has five or more rebounds in 11 of the last 16 games.
During the last 12 games, Toppin is averaging 14.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game and is shooting 53 percent overall and 50 percent from 3. He’s made 11 of 20 3-point shots in 16 SEC games.
Now he’s set to go through Senior Night ceremonies when Kentucky hosts Vanderbilt tonight.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to be in college this long,” Toppin, a Rhode Island transfer, said Tuesday. “Everything works out for the best. So, it’s God’s plan. Truly blessed to be able to play for Kentucky basketball. It’s been an honor.
“The emotions, it’s going to be a lot, because I’ve been here for three years. A lot of ups and downs, a lot of blood, sweat and tears. So, it’s going to be emotional.”
Calpari often criticized Toppin’s immaturity early in his UK career.
“He was a little immature,” senior teammate Brennan Canada said Tuesday. “He’s grown a lot.
“I guess Rhode Island, it’s obviously different, but he’s grown so much since he’s been here, it’s actually crazy.”
Oscar Tshiebwe, another senior, joked that Toppin was a “12-year-old kid on the team” when he arrived at UK from West Virginia.
‘They said ‘you’re going to need to help him so he can grow.’ I’m so proud of him to see how he always works hard, he’s always in the gym and now he’s taking leadership,” Tshiebwe said.
