BOSTON – University of Dayton forward Obi Toppin has been named to the Preseason Watch List for the 2020 Lute Olson Award.  Citizen Naismith Trophy Men's Player of the Year Watch List.  The Lute Olson Award is presented annually to the nation's top Division I player.

Toppin led UD in scoring (14.4), FG% (.666, 201-302), 3-pt., FG% (.524, 11-21) and blocked shots (28) last season.  He was the first UD player named the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Year. He was fourth in the nation in FG%, and his 83 dunks were second in Division I.  The 6-foot-9 forward from Brooklyn set Dayton freshman records for total points (475), scoring average, FG% and dunks.  His field goal percentage was also the third-best overall single season mark at Dayton.

After pulling his name from NBA draft consideration last spring, Toppin turned heads with his performance at the Nike Skills Academy in August.

In addition to being named to the Olson Watch List, Toppin is also on the Naismith Trophy Watch List, and the Basketball Hall of Fame's Karl Malone Award Watch List.  The Naismith Award also goes to the top collegiate player, while the Malone Award goes annually to the top power forward in college basketball.  There is an ongoing fan voting component to the Malone Award.  Click here to #VoteForObi.   

The Olson award, which is presented by collegehoopsinsider.com, is named in honor of Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson, who won 776 games in 34 seasons, 24 of which were spent at the University of Arizona. During that stretch he led the Wildcats to 11 Pac-10 Conference titles, 23 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, four Final Four appearances and a National Championship in 1997.

Dayton opens the season Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET against Indiana State.  That will be the rededication game of the University of Dayton Arena.  The University is celebrating the 50th anniversary season of the Arena, which opened on Dec. 6, 1969.  The Arena staff is celebrating the completion of a three-phase, $76.2 million Arena Transformation Project which is being completed in time for another 50 years of Flyer basketball at UD Arena.