When Dayton coach Anthony Grant took over the Flyers program, the first recruit he had on campus was an unknown recruit originally from New York. The kid had no offers out of high school, zero stars found next to his name, but in three short years he would leave an imprint on the Dayton program like nobody had before.
Obi Toppin’s college story starts out as an unheralded recruit that would redshirt his first year at Dayton because of academics. In his second year, scouts saw glimpses of greatness, but not enough to keep him in the NBA Draft pool. He returned to school and helped Dayton climb to third in the country, while sweeping the two biggest National Player of the Year awards in college basketball. He played just two seasons, not even a full two seasons because of COVID, and his impact on Dayton goes beyond just his playing career.
On Saturday, Dayton scored a commitment from the highest ranked recruit in school history when Montverde Academy forward DaRon Holmes picked the Flyers over other finalists- Arizona, California, and Marquette. Unlike Toppin, Holmes is highly regarded as evident with his four stars and ranked 36th overall in the Rivals150.
It stunned some that Dayton won out over great competition, but not his trainer August Mendes.
“I’ve worked the NBA Combine the last six years,” Mendes noted. “When you look at that list, it’s not just Kentucky and Duke, it’s schools from all over. You’re seeing Lehigh, right. You’re seeing other mid-majors like Weber State. It could be a Division III school like what we’re seeing with Duncan Robinson. Dayton, they’re on a roll. You can see what they’re building, you can feel the energy, they’re on to something special.”
Some are labeling the commitment as a product of “The Obi Toppin Effect.”
“I can’t say that it didn’t have an effect on me,” DaRon admitted. “He really led the way and was such a great presence at Dayton and, of course, that is going to attract recruits.”
Though he hadn’t played a game in the NBA yet, Toppin was mentioned alongside current NBA players Pascal Siakam, Jerami Grant, and Mikal Bridges as Holmes’ favorites.
“DaRon told me that Obi was one of his favorite players and I didn’t even know that,” Mendes said. “I think it’s really special to hear that and I feel like they have the blueprint to making him a great player. Obi had no stars, that says a lot. It says trust us and we can build you into a great player and get you to that next level.
“Just go play, work hard, and earn your time. You know, they developed your favorite player. I think this is a really good match.”
Although DaRon insists that he will take whatever jersey they give him, he did say that the number one means a lot to him and he’d like to wear the number Obi donned his final two years at UD.
In his last season, Toppin put the Flyers in a position to be a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament with a legit shot at winning the National Championship.
Although COVID-19 wouldn’t allow that to play out, Obi was the best player in college basketball and will be one of the top selections in November’s NBA Draft.
Despite no offers out of high school, rated zero stars, and not even making a single NCAA Tournament in college, Obi’s legacy is apparent and he’s raised Dayton’s brand on a national level like never before.
“That’s what happens when great players and a great program come together,” Holmes explained. “The atmosphere, the coaching staff, the culture, the development there, plus Obi Toppin’s work ethic and his drive and passion as well… Seeing that all come together inspires recruits like me to go there for school. So he really did have an effect on me.”
There you have it. It’s real. It’s The Obi Toppin Effect. And it helped land the 36th ranked player in the country to Dayton.
