During the 2021-22 season, Jacob Toppin and Bryce Hopkins became incredibly close friends during their time in Lexington. Neither had a major role for Kentucky on the hardwood, with Toppin averaging 17.7 minutes per game off the bench while Hopkins was even lower on the totem pole at 6.5 minutes per game, but both had clear potential. A jump in their development felt imminent, and it didn’t take long for that to happen.
But unfortunately, it didn’t happen while they were on the same team.
Hopkins transferred to Providence over the offseason for a larger role while Toppin slid in as Kentucky’s starting power forward.