Texas Tech University Athletics
Anderson, Toppin add to All-America honors
March 18, 2026 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK – All-America awards continued to roll in for JT Toppin and Christian Anderson on Wednesday with Toppin being named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-America Second Team and the NABC All-America Second Team and Anderson earning USBWA's All-America Third Team. The Texas Tech duo of Toppin and Anderson were the only teammates both selected for the USBWA All-America Teams and added to their list of all-America honors that also included Associated Press All-America and The Sporting News All-America.
Toppin was also named an Associated Press All-America First Team selection and to The Sporting News All-America Second Team to secure honors by all four organizations that comprise consensus status. 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 three all-America honors 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. Along with Wednesday's announcement of USBWA selection, Anderson also earned AP All-America Third Team and The Sporting News All-America Third Team honors. 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.
USBWAÂ All-America First Team: AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Cameron Boozer (Duke), Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), Darius Acuff (Arkansas), Braden Smith (Purdue)
NABC All-America First Team: Darius Acuff (Arkansas), Cameron Boozer (Duke), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), Braden Smith (Purdue)
USBWA All-America Second Team: Toppin, Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State), Kingston Flemings (Houston), Keaton Wagler (Illinois), Caleb Wilson (North Carolina)
NABC All-America Second Team: Toppin, Kingston Flemings (Houston), Thomas Haugh (Florida), Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State), Keaton Wagler (Illinois)
USBWA All-America Third Team: Anderson, Thomas Haugh (Florida), Jeremy Fears (Michigan State), Jaden Bradley (Arizona), Labaron Philon (Alabama)
NABC All-America Third Team: Jaden Bradley (Arizona), Jeremy Fears (Michigan State), Graham Ike (Gonzaga), Labaron Philon (Alabama), Caleb Wilson (North Carolina)
Anderson and Toppin have proven 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.
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
ANDERSON:Â AP All-America Third Team; All-Big 12 First Team; Big 12 Most Improved Player; USBWAÂ All-America Third Team; 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
TOPPIN:Â AP All-America First Team; All-Big 12 First Team; NABCÂ All-America Second Team; USBWAÂ All-America Second 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
McCASLAND:Â NABCÂ 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.
