KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — JT Toppin had 26 points and 10 rebounds to lift No. 9 Texas Tech to a 76-74 victory over Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday night.

The panel voted Texas Tech's impact transfer, J.T. Toppin, as the Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Year. Houston's Kelvin Sampson and Texas Tech's Grant McCasland shared the honor of Big 12 Coach of the Year.

JT Toppin, a 6-foot-9 forward, is rapidly growing into a well-known figure in college basketball for his on-court prowess and his high NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) value. His growth from a standout freshman at the University of New Mexico to a significant player at Texas Tech demonstrates his growing athletic and financial prominence.

Texas Tech sophomore forward JT Toppin has been selected by Big 12 coaches as the league’s player and newcomer of the year. The awards were announced Monday.

JT Toppin was named player and newcomer of the year to headline the Texas Tech basketball team's all-Big 12 honors.

Award season is around the corner, so here's a look at the cases for Texas Tech basketball's JT Toppin and Grant McCasland to earn the Big 12's highest honors.

A few weeks ago, while preparing to be the sideline reporter on an Arizona State-Texas Tech game, I was asked by a producer whom I believed should be the Big 12 Player of the Year. I had to think for a second.