Tag: pharrel payne

Texas A&M basketball drops in lastest Bracketology update after losing to UCF

ESPN Bracketology is still very confident in Texas A&M earning a single digit seed

No. 13 Texas A&M (0-1) entered Week 1 of the 2024-2025 college basketball season, facing one of the tougher opening-season challenges among the rest of the SEC against UCF.

The 13th-ranked Aggies were the superior team on paper despite missing veteran guard Zhuric Phelps, who transferred from SMU during the offseason, but that didn’t matter to the also undermanned home team, who took full advantage of A&M’s offensive ineptitude late in the second half.

Star point guard Wade Taylor IV was limited to 13 points and 4/15 from the field, while former Minnesota center Pharrel Payne, who led the Aggies with 15 points and six rebounds, fouled out late, resulting in an A&M going scoreless from the field in the find final three and half minutes of the game.

Losing 64-61 after failing to take the game into overtime, head coach Buzz Williams has plenty to fix before the Aggies host Texas A&M-Commerce on Friday afternoon.

After the loss, ESPN’s Bracketology update revealed that Texas A&M is projected as a 5-seed facing 12-seed Princeton in the Midwest (Indianapolis) Region. It’s way too early, but it proves that losing an opener, especially on the road, is just a blip on the radar with many opportunities to right the ship.

Texas A&M will head home, set to host Texas A&M-Commerce on Friday, Nov. 8th inside Reed Arena.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Texas A&M basketball is hosting former standout SMU guard this weekend

Texas A&M is currently hosting former SMU guard Zhuric Phelps this weekend

After missing out on several transfer portal targets this offseason, Texas A&M head basketball coach Buzz Williams has continued to search for the replacement of outgoing veteran guard Tyrece Radford heading into the 2024-2025 season.

Williams has already done an impressive job this month after adding former Nebraska guard CJ Welcher and former Minnesota forward Pharrel Payne in the last two weeks, as Payne is coming off his best season yet with the Gophers, averaging 10 points and six rebounds per contest.

However, former Oregon State guard Jordan Pope, who was a finalist to land with the Aggies last week, chose rival Texas on Wednesday afternoon. Still, this led Williams to contact a well-known veteran guard out of Dallas, Texas.

On Friday night, Jaxson Callaway (AggiesToday) revealed that Texas A&M is scheduled to host former SMU guard Zhuric Phelps for a visit through Saturday. As one of the top scorers and notable defenders last season, Phelps averaged an impressive 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and two steals in 2023. Phelps looks like a perfect fit for Williams’ system with one season of collegiate eligibility remaining.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Former Oregon State guard Jordan Pope will announce his transfer decision on Wednesday

It’s down to Texas or Texas A&M for former Oregon State guard Jordan Pope, who will make his announcement on Wednesday

Texas A&M Basketball has already landed two key players from the transfer portal in the last two days. Former Nebraska guard CJ Wilcher and former Minnesota forward Pharrel Payne will move to College Station for the 2024-2025 season.

Combined with the official return of star guard Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M’s roster is in good hands once again, but to finally take the next step after falling to the No. 1-seed Houston Cougars in the NCAA Tournament last month, more help is needed through the portal.

Already hosting a bevy of talent this month, one of the top available guards is set to make his decision after visiting the program last week, as former Oregon State leading scorer Jordan Pope will announce his decision between Texas and Texas A&M on Wednesday evening, according to On3’s Joe Tipton.

In what could be an elite backcourt for the Aggies next season if Pope were to commit, he definitely proved his ability in 2023, leading the Beavers with 17.6 points, shooting 45% from the field, 37% from 3-point range, and 87% from the stripe.

While Texas certainly needs a replacement for the departing Max Abmas, Tyrece Radford’s Aggie career has also ended, providing Pope with a clear path to a starting spot opposite Taylor and incoming senior Manny Obaseki.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Texas A&M lands a commitment from former Minnesota forward Pharrel Payne

Texas A&M Basketball has landed another commitment from the transfer portal, as former Minnesota forward Pharrel Payne is making his way to College Station

Texas A&M head basketball coach Buzz Willimas has acquired two players through the transfer portal in the last two days, as former Minnesota forward Pharrel Payne will make his way to College Station for the 2024-2025 season, coming off his productive 2023 season.

After the announcement that starting guard Wade Taylor IV would officially return next season, the Aggies are just a couple of transfer additions away from earning a potential third consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Needing to fill several holes on the depth chart after the departure of veteran guard Tyrece Radford, while the reveal of senior forward Julius Marbles’ legal issues eliminates his future on the roster, Williams’ addition of former Nebraska guard CJ Wilcher, who shot nearly 40% from beyond the arc last season, was just the first step.

With Tuesday’s addition from Pharrel Payne, who stands at 6-9 and 255 pounds, Payne averaged an impressive 10 points and 6.1 rebounds during his 2023 sophomore season while shooting 60% from the field. Payne is a dominant inside presence, bringing elite athleticism and plenty of offensive upside. He also averaged 1.4 blocks in 2023.

With plenty of talent remaining in the transfer portal, especially at guard, the expectations have just been heightened.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Wisconsin basketball transfer target, former Minnesota forward commits to SEC school

Another transfer target off the board for Greg Gard and his staff

Wisconsin Badgers transfer portal target Pharrel Payne committed to Texas A&M on Tuesday.

Wisconsin had expressed interest in the former Minnesota forward after he entered the transfer portal on March 28. His departure was considered a big loss for a Minnesota program that is looking for momentum under head coach Ben Johnson — though Payne wasn’t its only big loss of the offseason.

Related: An updated list of Wisconsin basketball’s transfer portal targets

The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 10 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.4 blocks on 60% shooting as a sophomore in 2023-24, improving on nearly every stat from his productive freshman season.

Greg Gard and his staff are still in search for a replacement for departed senior forward Tyler Wahl. Payne would have filled that criteria and been a terrific option for the Badgers.

That search will now have to continue after the forward became the latest in a long line of Wisconsin’s transfer targets to commit elsewhere.

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Wisconsin basketball pursuing former Minnesota transfer forward

Wisconsin basketball pursuing former Minnesota transfer forward

Wisconsin basketball has expressed interest in Minnesota transfer forward Pharrel Payne.

Payne entered the transfer portal on March 28 in what was called a huge loss for the Golden Gophers. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 10 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.4 blocks on 60% shooting as a sophomore in 2023-24, improving on nearly every stat from his productive freshman season.

Related: An early look at the Wisconsin basketball roster entering 2024-25

The up-and-coming forward scored nine points on 3 of 10 shooting in Wisconsin’s 61-59 win over Minnesota this season. His best performance was a 21-point, 11-rebound outburst in the Golden Gophers’ 81-70 win over Rutgers.

The Portal Report notes Wisconsin is among the schools that have expressed interest in Payne along with Texas Tech, Texas, Indiana, Syracuse, Iowa State and Illinois.

Greg Gard’s team has a vacancy at power forward after Tyler Wahl’s graduation. Payne is one of the several forwards Wisconsin is reportedly in pursuit of.

For more on Wisconsin’s roster and transfer portal activity, check out Badgers Wire’s ongoing 2024 transfer portal tracker.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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