Dayton standout Obi Toppin declares for 2020 NBA Draft

Dayton Flyers standout Obi Toppin announced his decision to declare for the 2020 NBA Draft on Wednesday afternoon.

Toppin was named a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year award this season. He averaged 20 points, 7.5 rebounds and shot 63.3% from the field for the Flyers this season. Dayton finished the season ranked No. 3 overall in the AP Top 25 poll and was likely going to be a No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament had it not been canceled. Toppin was a big reason why and now the forward will head to the NBA, where he’s projected to go in the lottery.

Obi Toppin analysis

He’s a freakish athlete, and his father Obadiah was a playground legend in New York City. He can score from anywhere inside half-court, as his jumper has evolved with an extra year in college to be near-NBA ready now. But what makes the 6’9 Toppin ready now is his elite athleticism. He can go up and get at lob from the dunk spot with a huge radius, or step out and shoot the three. For where the NBA is going, he’s the prototype player.

Whether his lack of defense for Anthony Grant at Dayton was by design to save his legs, or because he’s just passively interested in guarding people, remains to be seen. But if he can even become a league-average defender, he should have a long and successful NBA career.

— Collin Sherwin, CBB Deputy Editor