The 2020 NBA Draft will be an important event for teams to build for their future. Here is the Obi Toppin 2020 NBA Draft Profile.

Background

Position: Power Forward

Size: 6-foot-9, 220 pounds

School: Dayton

Class: Sophomore

Toppin was an incredible player for Dayton and led them to a great season that unfortunately couldn’t be completed. As the season went on, Toppin continued to shoot up draft boards and now is one of the top players in the class.

It is odd to see a player go from obscurity to such a big star, but that’s what Toppin did. He wasn’t heavily recruited out of high school and then went to prep school. There, he developed into a decent prospect and chose to go to Dayton for his college career. As a freshman, he had 14.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Dayton went to the NIT that season. He boosted his play this past season and won the Player of the Year award, while leading Dayton to a 29-2 record. He averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

It may have taken Toppin longer than most other draft prospects to prove himself, but he sure left an impression on college basketball fans. He is now one of the best players in the 2020 NBA Draft class.

Strengths

Toppin has a chance to stretch defenses with his shooting ability. He has soft touch and good form, which helps him score in the post and from deep. At Dayton, he shot 41.7 percent from deep, which is great for his size. He has ranged to extend out to the NBA 3-point line and maybe further. If he continues to knock down shots at a high rate, it will make the whole offense he is on better as defenses can’t clog the paint.

His ability to handle the ball is also great for such a big player. He can create his own shots and get to the basket when the ball is in his hands. Several times in college he was able to blow by his man and convert highlight plays. If teams play him as a small-ball big man, he can be a huge mismatch and can make bigger defenders try and chase him.

He is one of the most athletic big men in the class. This was on display with his highlight dunks, but it also shows up in other areas. He has the body control to finish at the basket, the movement skills to be a matchup problem and the jumping ability to make plays at both ends of the floor. While he can rely on his athleticism too much, it is something that separates him from other big men.

Weaknesses

His defense is going to need some work for the next level. While he has the athleticism to guard, his foot speed isn’t great in a reactionary sense. There will be quicker players who can get by him. He should hold up in the post against most players, but his perimeter defending could be something that holds him back.

To go along with his perimeter guarding, Toppin needs to have better defensive awareness. He can get caught up guarding his man and doesn’t see the whole floor. NBA coaches will need to work with him on his team defense, especially with the wider, more open NBA court. His offensive game is solidly polished, but to be the best player he can be, he needs to improve on the defensive side of the ball.

His rebounding numbers are very low when taking in a lot of factors. He averaged just 6.4 rebounds per game last season. Toppin had the athleticism and size to do much better at rebounding in college, especially in the Atlantic 10, where there weren’t as many big, athletic players. It is only fair to expect that he will not be a great rebounder in the NBA.

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