Texas Tech University Athletics
Anderson, Toppin earn AP All-America honors
March 17, 2026 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK – JT Toppin and Christian Anderson have earned Associated Press All-America selections with Toppin being selected to the AP All-America First Team and Anderson being tabbed AP All-America Third Team. Texas Tech is the only program in the nation with two players selected on AP All-America teams. Â
Along with Toppin, the AP All-America First Team is comprised of Cameron Boozer (Duke), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Darius Acuff (Arkansas) and Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan). The AP All-America Second Team is made up of Braden Smith (Purdue), Jeremy Fears (Michigan State), Keaton Wagler (Illinois), Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State) and Caleb Wilson (North Carolina). Anderson is joined on the AP All-America Third Team by Graham Ike (Gonzaga), Kingston Flemings (Houston), Labaron Philon (Alabama) and Thomas Haugh (Florida).
Anderson and Toppin are the first teammates in program history to both earn AP All-America honors while and Toppin is the first Texas Tech player in program history to earn AP All-America two straight seasons and the only player in program history to be named AP All-America First Team. The program now has seven overall AP All-America selections including Jason Sasser (1995-96 – 3rd), Andre Emmett (2003-04 – 2nd), Keenan Evans (2017-18 – 3rd), Jarrett Culver (2018-19 – 2nd) and Toppin (2024-25 – 2nd). Anderson and Toppin proved to be the most dynamic duo in the nation throughout the regular season and led the Red Raiders to a program record three wins over Top 5 opponents and four Top 10 wins. Tech has been ranked throughout the season and is advancing to its third straight NCAA Tournament.
Toppin is now a two-time AP All-America after also being named an AP All-America Second Team selection last season as a sophomore. He went on to earn Consensus All-America Second Team honors last season and this season has now been named to the AP All-America First Team and The Sporting News All-America Second Team. Additional all-America honors are to be announced. Toppin recorded 16 double-doubles and averaged 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds through 25 games played this season before suffering a season-ending injury on February 17. A junior from Dallas, Toppin scored 30-plus points in six games this season with a season-high coming in a 35-point, 11-rebound performance at Illinois. He matched a career-high with 18 rebounds and scored 16 points in a home win and would go off for 31 points and 14 rebounds in a road win at then-No. 1 Arizona. At the time of his injury, Toppin was leading the nation with 234 field goals made. Toppin also earned All-Big 12 First Team honors and was a four-time Big 12 Player of the Week selection.
Anderson secured his second all-America honor so far this postseason in a sophomore season where he has established a new Texas Tech single-season record with 236 assists and leads the Big 12 with 7.6 assists per game. He is currently sixth in the Big 12 by scoring 18.9 points per game and enters the NCAA Tournament with 105 made 3-pointers and eight double-doubles. An Atlanta, Georgia native, Anderson scored a career-high 34 points in the season opener against Lindenwood and went for 31 points and a career-high 11 rebounds in a win over Cincinnati in conference play. He has scored 20-plus points in 12 games and has eight games with double digit assist totals, including a career-high 13 assists in a win over Oklahoma State. Anderson also earned All-Big 12 First Team honors and was a three-time Big 12 Player of the Week selection.
Texas Tech (22-10) is the No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region and opens the NCAA Tournament against No. 12 Akron at 11:40 a.m. (CST) on Friday in Tampa, Florida.
TEXAS TECH POSTSEASON AWARDS
TOPPIN: AP All-America First Team; All-Big 12 First Team; The Sporting News All-American (2nd Team); Field of 68 All-American (1st Team); Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team; Wooden Award Ballot, NABC Gulf District First Team
ANDERSON: AP All-America Third Team; All-Big 12 First Team; Big 12 Most Improved Player; The Sporting News All-American (3rd Team); Field of 68 All-American (3rd Team); Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team; Wooden Award Ballot, NABC Gulf District First Team
ATWELL: All-Big 12 Honorable Mention; All-Big 12 Newcomer Team
McCASLAND: NABC Gulf District Co-Coach of the Year
Follow the Red Raiders: Keep up with Texas Tech men's basketball news at TexasTech.com and at the team's social media on Instagram, X and Facebook.
