{{short description|American basketball player (born 2000)}} {{Use American English|date=November 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Jacob Toppin | image = Jacob Toppin.jpg | image_size = | caption = Toppin with Kentucky in 2022 | position = Small forward | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 9 | weight_lb = 200 | league = | team = Free agent | number = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|5|8}} | birth_place = Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | high_school = *Ossining<br>(Ossining, New York) *Woodstock Academy<br>(Woodstock, Connecticut) | college = * Rhode Island (2019–2020) * Kentucky (2020–2023) | draft_year = 2023 | career_start = 2023 | years1 = {{nbay|2023|start}}–{{nbay|2024|end}} | team1 = New York Knicks | years2 = 2023–2025 | team2 = →Westchester Knicks | years3 = {{nbay|2024|end}} | team3 = Atlanta Hawks | years4 = 2025 | team4 = →College Park Skyhawks | highlights = * 2× NBA G League Winter Showcase champion (2023, 2024) }} '''Jacob Toppin''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɒ|p|ɪ|n}} {{respell|TOP|in}};<ref>{{cite press release|title=2023-24 start of season NBA pronunciation guide|url=https://www.nba.com/news/2023-24-start-of-season-nba-pronunciation-guide|website=NBA.com|date=October 24, 2023|access-date=May 18, 2024}}</ref> born May 8, 2000) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Rhode Island Rams and the Kentucky Wildcats.
==High school career== Toppin attended Ossining High School where he played basketball, football and volleyball. As a senior, he averaged 15.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, earning All-Selection honors. Toppin was not highly recruited but committed to play college basketball at Rhode Island.<ref>{{cite news |last=Heering |first=Max |title=Kentucky basketball’s Jacob Toppin following his brother’s footsteps |url=https://bvmsports.com/2021/12/01/kentucky-basketballs-jacob-toppin-following-his-brothers-footsteps/ |access-date=July 27, 2023 |work=BVM Sports |date=December 1, 2021}}</ref>
==College career== Toppin averaged 5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in bench role as a freshman at Rhode Island. He transferred to Kentucky after the season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Borzello |first=Jeff |title=Jacob Toppin transferring from Rhode Island to Kentucky |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/29046231 |work=ESPN |date=April 16, 2020|access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref> As a sophomore, he averaged 5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tipton |first=Jerry |title=Jacob Toppin is coming back ‘with big goals in mind.’ UK’s veteran roster should help. |url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article261996800.html |access-date=July 27, 2023 |work=Lexington Herald-Leader |date=May 31, 2022}}</ref> Toppin averaged 6.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game as a junior.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brezina |first=Austin |title=Jacob Toppin details leadership on Kentucky roster heading into next year |url=https://www.on3.com/college/kentucky-wildcats/news/jacob-toppin-details-leadership-kentucky-roster-heading-into-next-year-basketball/ |access-date=July 27, 2023 |work=On3.com |date=July 9, 2022}}</ref> As a senior, he averaged 12.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Toppin declared for the 2023 NBA draft following the season, forgoing an additional year of eligibility.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kentucky forward Jacob Toppin announces intention to forego final season, declare for NBA Draft |url=https://nkytribune.com/2023/04/kentucky-forward-jacob-toppin-announces-intention-to-forego-final-season-declare-for-nba-draft/ |access-date=July 27, 2023 |work=Northern Kentucky Tribune |date=April 2, 2023}}</ref>
==Professional career== ===New York / Westchester Knicks (2023–2025)=== After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Toppin signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the New York Knicks on July 6, 2023<ref>{{cite tweet|author=NY_KnicksPR|title=Knicks sign Jacob Toppin|number=1677057359187783681|user=NY_KnicksPR|date=July 6, 2023|access-date=July 30, 2023}}</ref> and on October 22, the Knicks converted his deal into two-way contract.<ref>{{cite web|first=Rory|last=Maher|title=Knicks Convert Charlie Brown Jr., Jacob Toppin To Two-Way Deals|url=https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2023/10/knicks-convert-charlie-brown-jacob-toppin-to-two-way-deals.html|website=HoopsRumors.com|date=October 21, 2023|access-date=October 22, 2023}}</ref>
On December 5, 2023, Toppin made his NBA debut for the Knicks in a 146–122 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jacob Toppin - Game Log - 2023-24 Regular Season|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/4592461/type/nba/year/2024|website=ESPN.com|access-date=January 3, 2024}}</ref> On February 22, 2024, he signed a 10-day contract with New York<ref>{{cite web|title=Knicks Sign Jacob Toppin to 10-Day Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/knicks/news/knicks-sign-jacob-toppin-to-10-day-contract|website=NBA.com|date=February 22, 2024|access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref> and on March 4, he signed another two-way contract with the Knicks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Knicks Sign Jacob Toppin to 10-Day Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/knicks/news/knicks-sign-jacob-toppin-to-10-day-contract|website=NBA.com|date=March 4, 2024|access-date=March 4, 2024}}</ref>
On August 14, 2024, Toppin signed another two-way deal with the Knicks.<ref>{{cite web|title=New York Knicks Sign Jacob Toppin to Two-Way Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/knicks/news/new-york-knicks-sign-jacob-toppin-to-two-way-contract|website=NBA.com|date=August 14, 2024|access-date=August 14, 2024}}</ref> On March 2, 2025, The Knicks waived Toppin.<ref>{{cite web |title=Knicks Cut Matt Ryan, Jacob Toppin |url=https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/03/knicks-cut-matt-ryan-jacob-toppin.html |website=Hoops Rumors |access-date=March 9, 2025 |date=March 2, 2025}}</ref>
=== Atlanta Hawks (2025) === On March 4, 2025, Toppin signed a two-way contract with the Atlanta Hawks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atlanta Hawks Sign Forward Jacob Toppin to Two-Way Contract |url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/news/atlanta-hawks-sign-forward-jacob-toppin-to-two-way-contract |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}}</ref> His only appearance for Atlanta came in the team's season finale against the Orlando Magic, in which he recorded 17 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
On July 10, 2025, Toppin re-signed with the Hawks on a new two-way contract.<ref>{{cite web | last=Caudell | first=Jackson | title=Atlanta Hawks Re-Sign Jacob Toppin To A Two-Way Contract | website=Seattle Seahawks On SI | date=2025-07-11 | url=https://www.si.com/nba/hawks/onsi/news/atlanta-hawks-re-sign-jacob-toppin-to-a-two-way-contract-01jzvexbfwv3 | access-date=2025-12-06}}</ref> He made five appearances for Atlanta, averaging 1.6 points, 0.2 rebounds, and 0.2 assists. On December 8, it was announced that Toppin would miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hawks' Jacob Toppin: Undergoes season-ending surgery|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/hawks-jacob-toppin-undergoes-season-ending-surgery/|access-date=December 11, 2025|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}</ref> He was waived by the Hawks on December 15.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jacob Toppin: Waived by Atlanta|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/jacob-toppin-waived-by-atlanta/|access-date=December 30, 2025|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{NBA player statistics legend}}
===NBA=== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2023}} | style="text-align:left;"| New York | 9 || 0 || 4.2 || .556 || .250 || '''1.000''' || .8 || .3 || .0 || .1 || 1.4 |- | style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2| {{nbay|2024}} | style="text-align:left;"| New York | '''16''' || 0 || 3.1 || .300 || .000 || {{sort|-|—}} || .7 || .3 || .1 || .0 || .4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta | 1 || 0 || '''27.0''' || .500 || '''.625''' || {{sort|-|—}} || '''4.0''' || '''2.0''' || .0 || .0 || '''17.0''' |- | style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2025}} | style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta | 5 || 0 || 3.4 || '''.667''' || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || .2 || .2 || .0 || '''.2''' || 1.6 |- class="sortbottom" |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 31 || 0 || 4.2 || .486 || .429 || 1.000 || .7 || .3 || .1 || .1 || 1.4 {{S-end}}
===College=== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20 | style="text-align:left;"| Rhode Island | 30 || 3 || 18.5 || .426 || .245 || .644 || 3.9 || .5 || .4 || .4 || 5.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21 | style="text-align:left;"| Kentucky | 24 || 2 || 17.1 || .444 || .308 || '''.780''' || 3.5 || .7 || '''.5''' || .3 || 5.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22 | style="text-align:left;"| Kentucky | 29 || 4 || 17.7 || '''.556''' || '''.400''' || .745 || 3.2 || 1.1 || .3 || '''.6''' || 6.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23 | style="text-align:left;"| Kentucky | '''33''' || '''31''' || '''31.4''' || .463 || .305 || .664 || '''6.8''' || '''2.2''' || '''.5''' || .5 || '''12.4''' |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 116 || 40 || 21.7 || .471 || .289 || .695 || 4.5 || 1.2 || .4 || .4 || 7.4 {{S-end}}
==Personal life== Toppin's older brother, Obi, is also an NBA player.<ref>{{cite news|first=Hunter|last=Shelton|title=Jacob Toppin Signs Two-Way Deal With New York Knicks|url=https://www.si.com/college/kentucky/mbb/jacob-toppin-signs-two-way-deal-new-york-knicks|work=Sports Illustrated|date=June 23, 2023|access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://gorhody.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jacob-toppin/5238 Rhode Island Rams bio] * [https://ukathletics.com/sports/mbball/roster/player/jacob-toppin/ Kentucky Wildcats bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toppin, Jacob}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:American men's basketball players Category:Atlanta Hawks players Category:Basketball players from Brooklyn Category:College Park Skyhawks players Category:Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball players Category:New York Knicks players Category:People from Ossining, New York Category:Rhode Island Rams men's basketball players Category:Small forwards Category:Undrafted NBA players Category:Westchester Knicks players