Only one Texas Tech basketball player ranked a top-100 player in America by ESPN

The start of any season brings about tons of lists and rankings. One annual list that garners plenty of attention is ESPN's ranking of the top 100 players in college basketball. This week, that list was released and to the surprise of some, only on Texas Tech Red Raider made the cut.

Checking in at No. 51 on the list is new Red Raider JT Toppin. The New Mexico transfer is just a sophomore but last year he was the Mountain West Freshman of the Year. Thus, many believe he could be in store for a monster season at Tech.

From the article: "An unranked four-star recruit when he arrived at New Mexico, Toppin was one of the biggest surprises in the freshman class a year ago. He won Mountain West Freshman of the Year and earned all-conference honors after averaging 12.4 points and 9.1 rebounds -- including three double-doubles in high-profile games against San Diego State. He's now back in his home state as a frontcourt anchor for Grant McCasland."

Landing Toppin was the biggest win of the offseason for the Texas Tech basketball program. Many believe that the 6-foot-9 forward could be a first-round NBA Draft pick as early as next summer.

Toppin has elite length and athleticism which allow him to control the boards, protect the rim, and score in the paint. What's more, he even shot a respectable 34.4% from 3-point range last year (though he averaged just 0.9 3-point attempts per game).

While no other Texas Tech player made the list, two other top-100 players do have ties to the Red Raiders. Checking in at No. 48 is Pop Isaacs, the shooting guard who led Tech in scoring each of the past two seasons.

Now playing for Creighton, Isaacs is back to full health after playing last season with a knee injury. Many believe he will have a big year for the Bluejays after he posted 15.8 points per game for Tech in 2023-24.

Then, at No. 45 on the list is Michigan center Vlad Goldin. You may remember that he started his career at Tech in 2020-21 when he averaged only 1.9 points and 1.0 rebounds per game.

Since then, he has spent the past three seasons at Florida Atlantic where he's blossomed. For the Owls he averaged 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game and last season, he posted career-highs of 15.7 points and 6.9 rebounds. Now, the 7-foot-1 native of Russia is set to finish his college career at Michigan.

As for the No. 1 player on the list, that honor goes to true freshman Cooper Flagg of Duke. The highest-ranked Big 12 player is Hunter Dickinson of Kansas who is ranked 4th.

Many Texas Tech fans believe that forward Darrion Williams belongs in the top 100 but he didn't make the cut. Thus, only Toppin represents the Red Raiders on ESPN's list.

However, preseason lists are just fodder to stir up interest. What matters is how players are perceived after the season and if the Red Raiders have the type of year that we all hope they will, plenty of Texas Tech basketball players will get the love they deserve when the season is over.