Trail Blazers: 3 players to watch as March Madness approaches
By Ryan Gaskin
Obi Toppin (Dayton, PF)
Obi Toppin is absolutely my favorite pick for the Blazers from this years draft. Toppin will be 22 by the time he’s drafted, but is in just his sophomore year at Dayton, after redshirting his freshman year. After starting the year nowhere near the top 10 in any draft predictions, Toppin has catapulted to prominence and is now well-talked about in lottery discussions.
The 6-foot-9 forward is a complete mismatch for most college defenders — he’s too big for 4s and too quick for 5s, and is very efficient in doing so. Toppin is currently averaging 19.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2 assists a game, shooting 62.7 percent from the field. He’s led the Flyers to a national ranking of No. 4, and is an All-American lock for the year.
But do these stats mean he can succeed at the NBA level? Toppin’s offense, in my opinion, is good enough to take that next step. He finishes incredibly well over the rim (leads the nation in dunks this season), and has a surprisingly quick handle for a player his size.
https://twitter.com/taapathletics22/status/1227549418691403776
Toppin’s 3-point shooting compliments his athleticism too. The forward is currently shooting 37 percent from deep and has a smooth looking jump-shot. His ability to stretch the floor will be key to his NBA readiness, especially in a Terry Stotts offense.
Granted, defensively, Toppin is a little heavy-footed, and struggles to keep up laterally. The question with Toppin is whether his offensive ceiling can outweigh his defensive struggles — note that his play on both ends of the floor can easily improve.
Obi Toppin would be a coup for the Trail Blazers, especially with his draft stock rising by the day. With Dayton playing so well, I’d be surprised now if he fell out of the top 10, but if he does (or if the Blazers sneak into the top 10), I’d be excited for him to land in Portland.