Dayton’s Toppin, Grant named AP’s Player and Coach of the Year

Toppin and Grant are the first winners in school history of the top AP awards. This is only the second time in 40 years the winners came from the same team and the first since 2004. That year, fellow Atlantic 10 program Saint Joseph had Jameer Nelson and coach Phil Martelli claim AP’s top college basketball honors.

RELATED: Dayton’s Obi Toppin named AP First Team All-American; first in program history

For Toppin, the award is the latest in a slew of honors in college basketball’s postseason, after the coronavirus outbreak cancelled the NCAA Tournament. Toppin has already been named national player of the year by several outlets including CBS Sports, USA Today, The Athletic, and others.

RELATED: Dayton Flyers finish #3 in final Associated Press Top 25 Poll

Toppin was the only unanimous AP First Team All-American announced last week. He became the first Flyer in program history to named to the AP’s First Team.

RELATED: Obi Toppin named a finalist for Naismith Award

Grant picked up another honor for himself, who was previously named national coach of the year by CBS Sports and The Sporting News. Grant was also named the Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year.

Both men remain in contention for the Naismith Award for their position; Toppin for National Player of the Year and Grant for National Coach of the Year.

Fan voting for the Naismith Awards is open and equals five percent of the total vote. Votes can be cast through April 1 at naismithfanvote.com.