Tag: Texas Aggies Basketball

Hayden Hefner proclaims Texas A&M has the ‘best shot of making a run’ this upcoming season

“That helps the coaches out because we already know the system. We can teach these young guys more as the coaches are trying to teach.”

Guard Hayden Hefner is back in College Station for a fifth-year, and he has high hopes for the Texas A&M men’s basketball team this season.

“I feel like this is our best shot of making a run and doing things really well just because of the experience we have,” Hefner said Tuesday. “I know that’s a thing people talked about last year, but really, returning like 75% of the guys who played last year. Being able to have that really helps the coaches out because we already know the system. We can teach these young guys more as the coaches are trying to teach.

“That allows us to make up more ground as the season goes on. We’re better prepared at the preseason level and at the non-conference level to understand what we’re aiming for as an identity at a much faster pace than maybe in the past.”

The No. 13 Aggies begin the 2024-25 campaign against the team that ended their NCAA Tournament run in March, No. 4 Houston, on Oct. 27 at 4 p.m. CT

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Texas A&M women’s basketball team reveals 16-game Southeastern Conference schedule

While the first three games may be extremely challenging, it’ll quickly show Aggies head coach Joni Taylor exactly what her team is made of.

After the Texas A&M men’s basketball team unveiled its 2025 SEC schedule on Tuesday, the following day belonged to the ladies.

The Aggies women’s basketball team revealed its 16-game conference slate on Wednesday. While the first three games may be extremely challenging, it’ll quickly show head coach Joni Taylor exactly what her team is made of.

Texas A&M begins SEC play with back-to-back home matchups in College Station, Jan. 2 versus Tennessee and Jan. 5 against Ole Miss. The Aggies hit the road for the next two contests, Jan. 9 at South Carolina and Jan. 12 at Oklahoma.

On Jan. 16, Texas A&M hosts Georgia. Precisely one week later, the Aggies welcome Kentucky to their land. Texas A&M travels to the bayou on Jan. 26 to face LSU. Four days after, the Aggies matchup against Arkansas.

Texas A&M starts the second half of the conference campaign on Feb. 2 versus Texas. The Aggies play at Auburn on Feb. 6. Texas A&M returns to Reed Arena on Feb. 9 to take on Mizzou. Eight days later, the Aggies travel to Tuscaloosa to for a matchup at Alabama.

On Feb. 20, Texas A&M faces Florida. The Aggies conclude their road schedule with a pair of games, Feb. 23 at Mississippi State and Feb. 27 versus Vanderbilt.

Texas A&M begins the madness by finishing the regular season at Reed Arena against Arkansas on March 2.

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SEC play begins with pair of juicy matchups for Texas A&M men’s basketball team

Before football starts, it’s time to look ahead to hoops season as the Texas A&M men’s basketball team released its SEC schedule on Tuesday.

Although we may all be hyperfixated on the college football campaign starting next week, and for good reason, it’s time to look ahead to hoops season as the Texas A&M men’s basketball team released its full SEC schedule on Tuesday afternoon.

The conference slate begins on the fourth day of 2025. The first two SEC games on the Aggies’ schedule are against two programs that weren’t even in the conference last year: Texas and Oklahoma.

Texas A&M hosts the Longhorns before playing in Norman against the Sooners on either Jan. 7 or 8, which is to be determined. The Aggies close out January against the same two squads, Jan. 25 at Texas and Jan. 28 or 29 versus Oklahoma.

Following eight games in January and seven in February, Texas A&M begins the madness with three more conference contests in March. The Aggies play at Florida on March 1, against Auburn on March 4 or 5 in the regular season home finale and March 8 in the bayou at LSU.

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Thunder guard and Texas A&M alumnus Alex Caruso rated higher in NBA 2k25 than 2 legends

Ahead of the release for NBA 2k25, player ratings have begun to be revealed and the newest member of the Thunder is ranked ahead of legends.

As one of the best defensive guards in the NBA, Texas A&M alumnus Alex Caruso is well respected by his peers — and deservingly so.

Ahead of the release for NBA 2k25 on Sept. 6, player ratings have begun to be revealed and the newest member of the Thunder is ranked ahead of two future Basketball Hall of Famers.

Caruso was given an 82 rating which ranked him 71st overall in the association. Other players with an identical rating include: Jalen Suggs, Herbert Jones, Jerami Grant, Darius Garland, Ivica Zubac and Jonas Valančiūnas.

The combo guard found himself slotted ahead of five former NBA All-Stars, two of which are arguably first ballot Hall of Famers. Those pair of legends are Chris Paul and Klay Thompson. After Caruso was traded to Oklahoma City in June, the move was compared to when the Golden State Warriors acquired Thompson’s former teammate, Andre Iguodala.

The other three All-Stars ranked behind Caruso, all of which with an 81 rating, are D’Angelo Russell, Mike Conley and Nikola Vucevic.

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Texas A&M alumnus Tyrece Radford signs first professional contract with an overseas team

After spending July playing for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Summer League, Tyrece Radford has signed his first professional contract.

After spending July playing for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Summer League, Texas A&M alumnus Tyrece “Boots” Radford has signed his first professional basketball contract with a team overseas.

On Tuesday, Radford signed with Final Spor Genclik Bursa of the Basketbol Süper Ligi, which is a part of the Turkish Basketball Federation. During his final season in College Station, Boots averaged 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

While playing for San Antonio, Radford participated in the California Classic held at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. After two games in the Capitol of the Golden State, he spoke exclusively with Aggies Wire.

Among many topics, Boots discussed his discovery that patience is a virtue.

“Going into college as a freshman, everybody wants to play immediately and thinks they’re prepared for it. You have to preach patience because your time is going to come. My time came, I played and I was a starter in college. Now it’s a total reset,” Radford said last month. “My experience in college from a freshman to a senior was to be patient. Now starting over, I can tell myself to be patient, it’s a process. I was talking to coach (Devin Johnson) the other day and it’s just about being patient but staying ready.

“It’s a line, you gotta be patient, try your best to stay ready and whenever your opportunity comes, take full advantage of it. That’s where I’m at mentally.”

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Stacked 10-game non-conference schedule announced for Texas A&M men’s basketball program

Texas A&M announced its non-conference slate and in addition to the Players Era Festival, the Aggies will play 10 games outside of the SEC.

This past season proved that even if the Texas A&M men’s basketball team is inconsistent during conference play, as long as they make the NCAA Tournament, everything in College Station will be just fine.

The Aggies revealed their 2024-25 non-conference schedule on Wednesday and it is stacked, to say the least. In addition to the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas during Thanksgiving week, Texas A&M will play 10 games outside of the SEC.

Reed Arena will host 7-of-10 contests with five in November and December, respectively. The following is the non-conference slate: Nov. 4 at UCF, Nov. 8 vs. TAMU-Commerce, Nov. 11 vs. Lamar, Nov. 15 vs. Ohio State, Nov. 20 vs. Southern, Dec. 3 vs. Wake Forest, Dec. 8 at Texas Tech, Dec. 14 at Purdue, Dec. 20 vs. Houston Christian and Dec. 28 vs. Abilene Christian.

According to Texas A&M alumnus Brad Marquardt on X, the Buckeyes are the first Big Ten program to travel to Aggieland since 2005 and only the third all-time. Also per Marquardt, the Demon Deacons are the second ACC squad to ever play a regular season game in College Station and first since 1996.

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2025 4-star guard out of Mt. Zion Prep places Texas A&M in his Top 8

2025 4-star combo guard Chris Jeffrey is on the Aggies radar

Under head coach Buzz Williams, Texas A&M basketball recruiting has been an issue under his leadership, but if we’re being honest, it’s not all Williams’ fault. Texas A&M is not a blue blood basketball program, but it surely has the resources and backing to at least try to become one.

Entering his sixth-season at the helm, the Aggie’s roster is quite possibly in the best shape it’s ever been under Williams, as four out of five 2023 starters will return, headlined by incoming senior point guard Wade Taylor IV.

Finally making it past the round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament, Williams picked up three commitments from the transfer portal to finish out the 2024-2025 roster, but focusing back on recruiting, he has yet to land a commitment in the 2025 recruiting cycle.

However, it looks like Texas A&M is finally gaining national traction among blue-chip propsects once again, as 2025 4-star combo guard Chris Jeffrey has included the Aggies in his Top 8 program list, joining Butler, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Penn State, and Tennessee.

Out of Mt. Zion Prep in Maryland, Jeffrey is a rising guard prospect due to his size and speed, posessing a soft touch near the basket, while his outside shooting continues to increase in efficiency.

According to On3, Jeffrey is the 68th-ranked prospect in the 2025 cycle, the 8th-ranked point guard, and the No. 3-ranked prospect in Maryland.

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Former Texas A&M guard Quenton Jackson sign two-way deal with the Indiana Pacers

Quenton Jackson will stay with the Indiana Pacers organziation headining into next season

For those of us who had the pleasure of covering former Texas A&M star guard Quenton Jackson during his final collegiate season with the Aggies, his basketball career would only continue from there, whether in the NBA or playing in the international circuit.

Going undrafted after the 2022 season, Jackson joined the Washington Wizards’ G-League organization while appearing in nine games during the 2022-2023 NBA season before transitioning to the Indiana Pacers, who have committed to developing Jackson’s skill set.

Extremely athletic, Jackson took full advantage of his elevated playing time during the NBA Summer League. The 25-year-old recorded an impressive 22 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists, and 2 blocks in the Pacers’ 100-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier last week.

On Saturday, the Pacer’s leadership took notice of what they have in Quenton Jackson as a potential contributor on the court, signing him to his second two-way contract with the team, as he will continue playing for the Indiana Mad Ants in the G-League with the potential to appear in the 2024-2025 NBA regular season.

Former East Carolina/UConn guard Tristen Newton was also signed to a two-way contract with the Pacers.

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Texas A&M senior PG Wade Taylor hosts back to school backpack drive at Boys and Girls Club

“I want to give back to the community that has made me who I am today. I’m from Dallas but being in College Station is like my second home.”

Texas A&M senior point guard Wade Taylor IV is a dynamic distributor.

Usually he’s tossing dimes to his teammates on the hardwood. This week, Taylor distributed 120 backpacks, 15 Chick-fil-A gift cards, two tablets, and one laptop to children at the Brazos Valley Boys and Girls Club.

“This is our second annual back to school backpack drive. We did one last year and I think it’s pretty great. We wanted to come back again this year and give the kids something to look forward to,” Taylor told KBTX. “It was a blast. I just want to give back to the community that has made me who I am today. I’m from Dallas but being in College Station is like my second home. Giving these kids something to look forward to and being excited to go back to school is what I want to do.”

The 4 Wade Taylor Foundation is already looking forward to its third annual event next year.

“Seeing the kids smile, that means a lot to me, because I know one day I was going to get free backpacks and stuff like that,” Taylor said Wednesday. “College Station is like my second home. I’m forever an Aggie.

“So long as they let me do it is as long as I’ll be able to do it,”

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2025 4-star center John Clark will reportedly visit Texas A&M

One of the top center prospects in the 2025 recruiting class is considering Buzz Williams and Texas A&M

Football season is upon us, but here’s some basketball news regarding Texas A&M and head coach Buzz Williams, as well as the program’s 2025 recruiting class. Without a single commitment in the 2025 cycle, one of the top centers in the country is now heavily considering the Aggies after receiving an offer last summer.

Out of the prestigious Link Academy in Branson, Missouri, Clark’s frame and high-end athleticism resemble the future at the center position. Ascending Dallas Mavericks center Derek Lively has quickly become the prototype to work off of at the high school ranks.

Standing at 6’9″ and 210 pounds, Clark, a Houston, Texas native, has reportedly set up his future official visits going forward. Houston, Ohio State, and the Texas Longhorns are contending with Texas A&M and head coach Buzz Williams, who has struggled to consistently recruit top prospects to the program over his last five seasons.

According to On3, Clark is currently positioned as the 64th-ranked prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, the 14th-ranked forward, and the 4th-ranked prospect in Missouri.

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