Obi Toppin: 2020 Scouting Report

Bio and Measurables:

Strengths: Toppin took the NCAA by storm this year highlighted by his athleticism and leaping ability. At 6-9 with a 7-2 wingspan Toppin was able to translate his length and soft hands into an extremely gifted lob pass finisher. In the half court, he showed that he has the ability to score in the post and inside the paint. His ability to shoot the three pointer at a high percentage (39%) also allowed him to space the floor for his teammates. In transition it is almost impossible to stop Toppin from scoring given his exceptional finishing ability. As a finisher, Toppin can finish in traffic and has showcased his ability to thrive in the pick and roll. In the PNR Toppin exploits defenses as a roller, getting free inside and going up strong to the basket. His intent to go strong to the basket is backed by his ability to confidently shoot 70% at the free throw line. On the other hand, he also has the ability to pick and pop due to his high three point percentage. This makes it harder for defenders to recover after the initial screen, knowing Toppin can choose to either roll or pop.

Weaknesses: For Toppin, defense is far from a strength. He needs to improve his on ball defense, along with the overall effort he shows on the defensive end. His slow hips and heavy feet create concerns about how well of a defender he will be at the next level and if he will be able to guard smaller 4’s on and off ball. In regards to closing out on a defender, he is extremely susceptible to an easy blow-by and once the offensive player gains the first step he can’t recover. His over-commitment on closeouts is also seen when catch and shoot players elect to drive as he lacks the lateral quickness to keep them in front of him. On the offensive end Toppin is an excellent athlete but on the defensive end he relies too heavily on his athleticism to cover up his mistakes and chooses to be a shot blocker instead of an active participant in a team defense. His choice to be a shot blocker instead of a defender can be seen on plays he commits to pumpfakes and taking chances on weak side shot blocking instead of staying low and committing to boxing out his man. Toppin’s lack of actively boxing out also hurts his stock as a rebounder. When he commits to rising up to block a shot instead of staying low his defender is able to make an unabated run to crash the offensive glass. Additionally, for as good as Toppin is in the PNR and PNP on the offensive end, his defensive decision making coupled with his heavy feet and slow hips make him a liability when teams are running it against him.

External Factors: Toppin has not had the prototypical journey to becoming a top 10 pick, he was not a highly touted prospect and worked his way to stardom at Dayton. The only external factor that has been raised in regards to Toppin is his age. At 22 years old many are worried that we have already seen the best of Obi Toppin and he has reached his ceiling. It is hard to imagine that Toppin does not have room to grow though, in the right system and under an NBA development staff he is poised to keep growing his game.

Medical History: Currently, there are no public medical concerns regarding Obi Toppin.

Summary: Obi Toppin shocked the basketball world this past year and had Dayton positioned to make a final four appearance. Toppin’s defensive ability is extremely questionable at best, his heavy feet and slow hips are certainly a concern when guarding at the next level especially as the game begins to speed up and players who already have league experience are more crafty. At the next level Toppin must work on his discipline as a defender, choosing to stay down on pump fakes and box out instead of trying to block shots. However, what Toppin lacks on the defensive end he makes up for on offensive side of the floor. In the half court and in transition he will be an extremely valuable scorer for any team in the NBA. As a forward his ability to shoot the three will prove to be an important part of his game at the next level. Going forward Toppin should look to increase his three point attempts, while his percentage is 39% he is only attempting around two 3’s a game. An increase in shots behind the arc will continue to help space the floor and make him an ever harder to defend in PNR and PNP situations. Given his lack of injury history Toppin has proven to be someone who can play an ample amount of minutes without having to worry about previous injuries nagging his NBA campaign. In regards to his age, the NBA draft has shifted their age range toward a youth movement. Toppins age should not be a concern, while he is relatively older than the average draft class and the other players within the top 10 he is only 22 and will have years to continue to refine and develop his game in an NBA system. As of right now Toppin will be a starter in the league for years to come and should be featured in the first ten picks of the draft.