Texas A&M’s 11-2 record in nonconference play represents the best start for coach Buzz Williams amid his sixth season with the program, mainly due to the returning veterans from the 2023-2024 roster, led by senior point guard Wade Taylor IV.
After losing veteran guard Tyrece “Boots” Radford to graduation, Williams knew that the only way the Aggies wouldn’t drop off from a production standpoint, especially in the backcourt, was to add a veteran guard to pair with Taylor. This led to the landing of former SMU guard Zhuric Phelps.
Needing an athletic forward to pair with Henry Coleman and Andersson Garcia, Williams gained a commitment from former Minnesota big game Pharrel Payne. At the same time, the final addition of transfer guard CJ Wilcher rounded out the most successful transfer portal haul in several offseasons.
So far, Phelps is second on the team with 12.9 points per game and a team-leading 2.6 steals per game, while Pharrel Payne has begun to ascend (7.3 ppg), and CJ Wilcher leads with Aggies from beyond the arc (39%)
During Tuesday’s Aggie Basketball Hour, Williams discussed the impact the transfer additions have made both culturally and on the court before hosting the Texas Longhorns to open SEC play on Saturday night:
“The staff has been near perfect in the vetting of those young men. Those decisions have to be made quickly with the portal changing each hour. If their character fits, it allows us to gain traction.”
Williams is known for recruiting character-rich players who fit his demanding defensive system, and so far, all three players have fit the mold, especially over the last month.
Texas A&M will host Texas on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 7:00 p.m. CT. The game will air on the SEC Network.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.