Texas Tech Roster Features Trio of Potential 2026 NBA Draft Picks
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are poised to be one of the top teams in the Big 12 again this season, with a roster strengthened by three players who could be future NBA Draft picks.
Under head coach Grant McCasland, Texas Tech has had two solid years, and the 2025-26 season could be even more promising for the program. After making the NCAA Tournament in McCasland’s first season, the Red Raiders made an even deeper run in 2024-25, reaching the Elite 8 and giving eventual national champion Florida a tough challenge in the quarterfinals.
This year, the Red Raiders are bringing back two key players from last season and have added a talented transfer to fill the void left by Darrion Williams, who transferred to NC State. Here’s a closer look at three players with NBA potential on Texas Tech’s roster this season:
Christian Anderson
Standing at 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Anderson enters his sophomore season as one of the top up-and-coming players in the Big 12. In his freshman year, Anderson averaged 10.6 points, three rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 42.9% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc on 5.3 attempts per game.
He earned Big 12 All-Freshman honors and had a standout summer, representing Germany on the national team in FIBA competition.
JT Toppin
A junior transfer to Texas Tech in 2024, Toppin made an immediate impact in his first season, posting averages of 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. The 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward shot 55.4% from the field and 32.7% from three-point range.
Toppin was named the Big 12 Player of the Year and a consensus All-American after his breakout season. He tested the NBA Draft waters in 2025 but decided to return for another year of college basketball. This season, Toppin is expected to be one of the country’s top players and is projected as a first-round pick, with NBA Draft on SI slating him at No. 30 overall to the Washington Wizards in their early 2026 projection.
LeJuan Watts
Watts, another junior, will play for his third school in as many seasons. After being named Big Sky Rookie of the Year at Eastern Washington in 2023-24, the 6-foot-6, 225-pound wing averaged 13.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game at Washington State in 2024-25.
Stepping into a starring role after a season-ending injury to first-round pick Cedric Coward, Watts shot 54.9% from the floor and 42.2% from beyond the arc on 1.9 attempts per game. His all-around play makes him a player to watch this season as he continues to make an impact at Texas Tech.
With these three players leading the charge, Texas Tech is looking to make another deep run and possibly send multiple players to the 2026 NBA Draft.
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