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Jacob Toppin Has Become the Person and Player He Has Always Wanted to Be

Originally posted on KY Insider | By Tristan Pharis | Last updated 3/17/23

Ahead of Kentucky’s Senior Night game against Vanderbilt in the regular season, Oscar Tshiebwe was asked about Jacob Toppin and how his maturity has developed. “I come here and Coach says, ‘We got a 12-year-old kid on the team. You’re going to need to help him so he can grow,’” Tshiebwe said.

“He introduced me to Jacob, and I say, ‘He’s not 12!’ But Jacob has changed a lot. Now he’s become mature. He understands we need him. He has done a lot of great things this year to help us, and I’m so proud of him to see how he always works hard, he’s always in the gym, and now he’s taking the leadership to lead all these younger boys.”

Toppin’s development can be clearly by seen by his statistics, doubling his production: averaging 5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds as a sophomore, to 12.5 points and 6.9 rebounds this season. However, his development can also be noticed off the court.

After the aforementioned game against Vanderbilt, Toppin shouldered the loss, citing a selfish moment in the first half that allowed the Commodores to go on a run.

“I messed up on two plays, then Coach (Cal) said something to me. I got an attitude, I got selfish,” Toppin explained. “I argued back with him and told him to take me out. That was selfish, I let my teammates down.”

Adds, "I got to be better, especially as a leader. I can't have those outbursts like that. Moving forward I'm going to control my emotions, control my actions and approach every situation the right way."
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) March 2, 2023

Toppin was followed up with the question, ‘how would you have reacted to that before?’ His answer? “I would have still been sulking.”

It’s clear that Toppin is no longer than 12-year-old that John Calipari recruited from Rhode Island, and his mother, Roni Toppin, tells Kyle Tucker of The Athletic that he is now the “person he has always wanted to be.”

“I cry when I watch him,” Roni tells Tucker. “Sometimes I’m driving to work and thinking about what he’s overcome and how far he’s come and how good he’s doing, mentally and physically, his work ethic on the court and off the court, the fact that he’s graduating from the University of Kentucky, which is a success in itself, and I just cry.”

While Toppin deserves a large portion of the credit for his emergance, John Calipari has played a key part as well. “I thank Cal every time I see him. Every time. ‘Thank you.’ His support has helped Jacob become the person he wanted to be,” Roni said.

This season is likely Toppin’s last in a Kentucky uniform, but what he last learned in his time in Lexington will last him a lifetime, both on and off the court.

This article first appeared on KY Insider and was syndicated with permission.

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