Texas the 'team to beat' for transfer PF target JT Toppin

Since the NCAA Transfer Portal spring window closed for new entrants a couple of weeks ago, Texas basketball's remaining targets are well known at this point of the 2024 offseason. Texas's one remaining scholarship spot for the projected roster for next season is being focused on adding an immediate impact low-post player who can fill a need in the frontcourt.

Texas basketball getting favorable returns for priority transfer PF JT Toppin this spring

Head coach Rodney Terry and the Longhorns have made former New Mexico Lobos standout true freshman power forward JT Toppin their top priority to address the frontcourt need in the portal.

It was reported last week that Toppin is considering the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Longhorns among his top two schools. The constant in the reporting surrounding this portal recruitment is that Toppin is expected to return to his home state of Texas entering his sophomore season.

Of course, that assumes that Toppin returns to college for his sophomore season after he declared early for the 2024 NBA Draft. A 247Sports report from May 14 (paid content) notes that Toppin is "fully committed" to seeing through the NBA Draft scouting process before he is expected to return to school for his sophomore campaign in 2024-25.

Getting feedback from the NBA Draft is a valuable part of this process for Toppin this spring.

Assuming Toppin does return to college for another season, it sounds like Texas is in a good spot to ultimately get his commitment from the portal entering the 2024-25 campaign. Texas and head coach Rodney Terry are reportedly currently viewed as "the team to beat" in Toppin's portal recruitment late this spring.

Toppin a top ranked PF available in the portal

The No. 5 transfer power forward in the 247Sports Composite broke onto the scene as one of the top true freshmen bigs in the nation, leading the MWC in offensive rebounding, blocks, and field goal percentage in 2023-24.

He helped lead New Mexico to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in nearly a decade while taking home the MWC Newcomer of the Year honors.

Toppin is viewed as a possible replacement for Texas's frontcourt after losing sophomore forward Dillon Mitchell to the transfer portal and senior big man Dylan Disu due to exhausted eligibility this offseason. Texas also returns sixth-year senior center Kadin Shedrick and landed former Indiana State Sycamores redshirt junior forward Jayson Kent to shore up the proven frontcourt depth for next season.

Other Texas basketball stories on Hook'em Headlines