He stood out during athletic testing of the 2022 NBA Combine, posting a 40-inch maximum vertical jump and 3.13-second time in the NBA shuttle. His athletic prowess should come as no surprise. Braun -who hails from Kansas and was named the state’s Mr. Basketball in 2019- has had an entire family play college basketball. His brother, Parker, is currently a 6-foot-10-inch forward for Santa Clara.
What makes this player NASTY…(Strengths): Athletic. Willing passer from the post (Kansas ‘19). Toppin is very engaged in offensive sets and moves well without the ball. His three years at Dayton made him a seasoned player. Gets easy buckets at the rim before expanding his range (Miss. State ‘18). Runs the floor and manufactures points in transition when his shot isn’t falling. Excellent body control. Makes passes with his off hand while in the air avoiding defenders. Productive weak side shot blocker.
Weaknesses: What is his positional fit defensively? Lateral quickness was a problem for him. Looks stiff when in his defensive stance. He was posted up and struggled against Kansas center Udoka Azubuike. The Jayhawks actually attacked him late in the game and targeted him through isolation off pick and rolls or post-ups. FT shooting percentage is troublesome as opposed to other shooting splits.
Other Notes: Attended four high schools: Heritage (Fl.), Melbourne Central Catholic (Fl.), Ossining (NY), Mt. Zion Prep (Md.). • Redshirted his freshman season at Dayton after being deemed academically ineligible. • 2x First Team All Atlantic 10 (2019, 2020), Atlantic 10 Player of the Year (2020), National Player of the Year (2020)• Brother, Jacob, plays college basketball for Kentucky. • 2018-2019 (33 games, 15 sts): 14.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.8 AST, 66% FG, 71% FT, 52% 3-PT, 0.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG • 2019-2020 (31 games, 31 sts): 20 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, 63% FG, 70% FT, 39% 3-PT, 1.0 SPG, 1.2 BPG • Career: 17.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 65% FG, 70% FT, 42% 3-PT, 0.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Time to get NASTY (Our Summary): Like many prospects, Toppin will have to be selected into the right situation to flourish. In an ideal scenario offensively, Toppin would be paired with shooters that can spread the floor. This would allow him to use his athleticism unabated around the rim. Atlanta Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce is defensive- minded and has a roster full of young shooters like Kevin Huerter and Trae Young. On the other end a marriage between him and a team like the Minnesota Timberwolves -who lack shooting and defense- would concern me when trying to project Toppin’s NBA prospects.
DraftNasty’s Corey Chavous sat down with former Kansas Jayhawks star defensive lineman Daniel Wise for a Q&A during the week of the 2019 East-West Shrine game to talk about the Wise last name, family lineage and what it meant to be a Jayhawk.
Q&A with Kansas DL Daniel Wise
Corey: What about this week (2019 East-West Shrine Game) and what it represents for you and the Kansas program?
Wise: It’s huge for me to be able to just represent the University of Kansas. Throughout everything I’m doing at the Shrine hospital, on the field, having that Jayhawk on my helmet means a lot to me.
Corey: I know the team success wasn’t what you may have hoped for during your career but individually you’ve been very productive the last three seasons. When you think about how you’ve been able to work the edges of guards and tackles by being slippery. Talk about your technique and what has allowed you to become that type of player.
Wise: My work ethic, my routine in the summer, my workouts, guys I train with, my teammates. Picking up things from them (teammates) and picking up things from my coaches. My dad (former NFL player Deatrich Wise, Sr.), my No. 1 coach, and my older brother (New England Patriots DL Deatrich, Jr.). Always being around football and always watching football.
Daniel’s older brother, Deatrich, Jr. (No. 99 pictured), was a participant in the 2017 East-West Shrine Game and has since gone on to post 9.5 quarterback sacks in two seasons with the New England Patriots.
Corey: We actually spent time with your brother here at the East-West Shrine game a couple of years ago. What has his success meant for you in continuing on that family lineage?
Wise: It’s huge for me to be able to follow his footsteps at the East-West Shrine game and hopefully one day maybe with him or wherever I go. But to be able to enter the league with him, it’s been a journey.
Corey: What type of scheme do you think you fit best in? You’ve been a four-technique, five-technique and three-technique. You can line up in the reduced front over the center. What do you think is your best position to start at?
Wise: Just the experience that I got playing at the University of Kansas in a 4-3 and 3-4, playing all up and down the line. It has given me a lot of experience on the line. Can play just about anywhere on the line confidently. But I think I earn my best money at the three-technique.
Former Kansas defensive lineman Daniel Wise (No. 96 pictured) posted 151 tackles, 18.5 quarterback sacks, 44 tackles for loss (2nd in school history) and blocked three kicks during his time as a Jayhawk.
Corey: It’s funny, when your brother was coming out, we asked him the exact same question. Because at Arkansas he was playing up-and-down the defensive front.
Wise: Yes sir, yes sir. That’s right.
Corey: So I guess the family lineage spreads to positional versatility. Toughest opponent in school?
Wise: My toughest opponent in school I’d say would have to go to No. 55 at West Virginia.
Corey: Cajuste (Yodny).
Wise: Yeah…Cajuste. He was a good athlete. His ability to adjust. His hands and his feet. He was a nice athlete, nice guy to go against.
Corey: If an NFL scout wanted your best game of your career what would it be? I know one game I watched two years ago against Texas (2016)…in Kansas.
Wise: Yeah, when we beat ’em. I feel like that’s one of my best games. Yes sir.
Corey: Give me another one.
Wise: Texas again this year. The West Virginia game (2018). The West Virginia game is kind of what sparked the season for me.
Corey: Best of luck. Enjoyed watching you play and good luck in the NFL.
DraftNasty’s Corey Chavous takes us inside some of the Day 1 images from the 2019 East-West Shrine practices at Tropicana Field in Tampa, Florida.
25 Johnson FULL EXTENSION MAGAZINE North Alabama
North Alabama's Chris Johnson goes full extension during Day 1 drills. Throughout his career as a Lion, Johnson displayed the ability to get off the hash as a rangy, 6-foot-2, 210-pounder.
4 Godwin at full extension to grab pass
Georgia's Terry Godwin (No. 4 pictured) goes full extension for a grab on Day 1 of 2019 East-West Shrine practices. Aside from his ability to win in short areas, the former four-star recruit displayed range as a pass catcher.
14 Cornelius about to throw deep with 90 Dogbe on the way
East quarterback and former Oklahoma State Cowboy Taylor Cornelius got outside of the pocket to throw a perfect pass on the move to Auburn wide receiver Ryan Davis. Davis got behind James Madison CB Jimmy Moreland on the play. Cornelius was at his best throwing deep breaking square-in patterns most of the day.
5 Davis about to get tackled by 15 Moreland in the open field after big catch
Despite getting behind Jimmy Moreland on this play, Davis (No. 5 pictured) had some issues with his footing and drops during the week. The former Tigers wideout caught 180 passes from a variety of positions during his four-year stay in the SEC.
22 Hampton IN FOCUS break
Rutgers safety Saquon Hampton, pictured, did a fine job of breaking on flat routes and filling as a run defender during the week. Hampton led the Big Ten with 16 passed defended (3 INTs, 13 PBUs) in 2018.
95 Slayton fumble recovery
Syracuse DL Chris Slayton displayed an ability to bend his knees during a scoop-and-score drill during an individual period. On Day 1, he won across the faces of guards and centers attempting angle blocks and also demonstrated power in one-on-one pass rush drills. Slayton -a 700-pound squatter- was difficult to block much of the week.
96 Broughton on the bags
Cincinnati DL Cortez Broughton (pictured doing bag drills) was often run by the pocket as a defensive end, but he used head-and-shoulder quickness to win as a three-technique on occasion. Despite being undersized to a degree, Broughton (6'2, 291) brings scheme versatility to the table with his 81-inch wingspan.
4 Rypien throwing from cloudy pocket in Monday’s practice
West quarterback and former Boise State Bronco Brett Rypien was effective throwing under pressure during several periods of Monday's practice. The player about to hit him -Kansas' Daniel Wise (No. 96 pictured)- was the most disruptive West defensive lineman during the day.
Taylor’s floor speed and improvement in his senior year propelled him to second round status in the 2012 NBA Draft. If he can improve his decision-making, Taylor could become one of the sleepers in this year’s draft class. After playing two years for the Brooklyn Nets, Taylor has gone on to play overseas in the BSN league, LPB league, Israeli premier league and Turkish Basketball First League.
