Toppin, Grant Add Naismith Trophy to Their Collection
Head coach Anthony Grant (left) and redshirt sophomore Obi Toppin (center) have been racking up awards since the premature end of UD men’s basketball’s historic season. Cover photo taken by Griffin Quinn
Michael Crouchley
Sports Editor
After a historic regular season, UD men’s basketball is starting to fill up its trophy cabinet.
Dayton men’s basketball redshirt sophomore Obi Toppin and head coach Anthony Grant were named Naismith Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively. The Naismith Award is the latest for the two who have been getting national recognition since Dayton ended the season ranked No. 3 in the country.
Grant led the Flyers to a 29-2 record in his third year as coach, the best regular season in program history. The Naismith College Coach of the Year Award is the highest honor for a coach in the NCAA.
Grant has also received coach of the year honors from the Associated Press, the National Association of Basketball Coaches, CBS Sports, the United States Basketball Writers Association and the Basketball Times.
See also- Dayton Women’s Basketball Delivers a Championship Despite March Madness Cancellation
Toppin finished the season averaging 20 points-per-game and 7.5 rebounds-per-game. He was already known for dunking ability but expanded his game to the perimeter this season, shooting 39% from three.
Toppin also received the Player of the Year Award from USBWA, the Associated Press, CBS and Sporting News. Toppin is also a finalist for the Wooden Award. The Wooden Award winner will be announced on Tuesday.
Toppin has signed an agent and declared for the 2020 NBA Draft, which is slated to take place in June. The Flyer forward is expected to be a lottery pick.
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