Tag: Texas Aggies Basketball

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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Texas A&M alumnus Quenton Jackson stuffs stat sheet for Pacers to finish NBA Summer League

As the 2024 NBA Summer League comes to a close on Monday, most teams played their final games in Las Vegas on Sunday, including the Pacers.

As the 2024 NBA Summer League comes to a close on Monday night, most teams played their final games in Las Vegas this weekend, including the Eastern Conference runner-up.

On Saturday afternoon, shooting guard Quenton Jackson finished strong for the Indiana Pacers during a 100-93 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Texas A&M alumnus stuffed the stat sheet with 22 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists and 2 blocks.
In 26 minutes of action, he converted 9-of-12 field goal attempts, 1-of-3 from 3-point range and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line.

Jackson joined the Indiana organization four months ago after signing a two-way contract on March 4. He split time between Indianapolis and Noblesville, which is home of the Pacers G League affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants.

After playing for three seasons in College Station, Jackson went undrafted in 2022. The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter has also suited up for the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls.

Jackson was named NBA G League Player of the Week in February during his stint with the Windy City Bulls.

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Texas A&M basketball reportedly setting up matchup with Texas Tech in December

Buzz Williams is looking to challenge his team early and often next season

While all eyes are on Texas A&M Football’s first season under head coach Mike Elko, Aggie Basketball should be one of the better teams in the country ahead of Buzz Williams’ sixth season at the helm.

Bringing back more than 80% of the 2023 roster that made it to the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament before falling to top-seeded Houston in overtime, Williams has continued to add veteran players through the transfer portal, filling out both the back and frontcourt depth.

Led by star point guard Wade Taylor IV, the loss of versatile guard Tyrece “Boots” Radford hurts, but the addition of SMU slasher Zhuric Phelps should help quell his three-year production. However, the ongoing development of incoming junior forward Solomon Washington should excite every Aggie fan heading into the season.

With an already challenging nonconference schedule, CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein has reported that Texas A&M and Texas Tech are finalizing a deal to play each other in a neutral site in Fort Worth’s Dickies Arean on Sunday, December 8, as the former Big 12 foes would meet for the first time since the 2011-2012 season.

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2024 4-star PG out of Phoenix (AZ) recently visited Texas A&M

Texas A&M’s 2024 basketball recruiting class is poised to grow this summer

With much of the focus surrounding offseason football recruiting and college baseball, Texas A&M’s basketball program has some work to do this summer on the recruiting trail, as head coach Buzz Williams has two commitments in the cycle so far.

With four-star point guard Andre Mills and four-star forward George Turkson representing the class, it has been reported that former Oklahoma State commit and point guard Jeremiah Johnson recently took a visit to College Station last week according to 24/7 High School Hoops.

A proven two-way guard with the ability to take over a game at any moment, Johnson’s 6-4, 160-plus pound frame doesn’t jump off the screen, but his play usually answers any lingering worries.

During his season with the Overtime Elite Diamond Doves, Johnson averaged 18.3 points per contest as the go-to option in nearly every position on the floor. In need of pure scoring guards to eventually take over for incoming senior guard Wade Taylor IV, Johnson, paired with Andre Mills could make for a dynamic backcourt duo.

According to 247Sports, Johnson is currently positioned as the 13th-ranked point guard in the 2024 class and the eighth-ranked prospect in Arizona.

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Texas A&M basketball has scheduled an intriguing home-and-home opponent

Texas A&M will take on the UCF Knights in a home-and-home matchup next season!

Texas A&M basketball will continue under head coach Buzz Williams, who is entering his fifth season at the helm with plenty of talent at his disposal, led by senior guard Wade Taylor IV, who led the Aggies in nearly every category last season.

This offseason, Williams has impressed with his utilization of the transfer portal, adding three veterans with plenty to offer on both sides of the ball, including former SMU guard Zhuric Phelps, who will look to help replace the paint production that veteran guard Tyrece Radford provided during his lengthy career with the program.

After playing one of the toughest schedules in the country last season, Williams is looking to up the ante in 2024, already set to compete in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, and, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, the Aggies will also face a home-and-home matchup with the always competitive UFC Knights.

During UCF’s first season in the Big 12, the Knights finished 17-16 and received an invitation to the NIT but failed to win a game. However, head coach Johnny Dawkins has proven his worth going into his ninth season with the program.

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2024 3-star forward Christopher McDermott has committed to Texas A&M

2024 3-star forward Chris McDermott has committed to Texas A&M!

Boom! Texas A&M and head coach Buzz Williams have landed one of the top remaining 2024 basketball prospects. Three-star forward Christopher McDermott, out of Booker T. Washington HS in Houston, Texas, will continue his playing career in College Station.

An underrated prospect, McDermott’s 6-7 and 215-pound frame doesn’t quite jump off the page, but his play on the court, especially on defense, is why Texas A&M was his biggest offer outside of Georgetown, Ole Miss, and SMU.

During his senior year, McDermott was unbelievably efficient and dominant on the boards, averaging 20 points per game and 18 rebounds per game, including 11 offensive boards, 1.9 steals, and nearly two blocks per contest. McDermott was the go-to scoring option throughout high school since earning a starting spot during his sophomore season.

McDermott now joins what has become a very impressive 2024 recruiting class for Buzz Willimas, as four-star guard Andre Mills and three-star forward George Turkson make up the rest of the cycle, coupled with three incoming transfers.

According to 247Sports, McDermott is currently positioned as the 146th-ranked prospect in the 2024 class, the 32nd-ranked power forward, and the 9th-ranked prospect in Texas.

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Former USC forward is down to six programs, including Texas A&M

Former USC forward Brandon Gardner has included Texas A&M as a potential transfer destination

Texas A&M head basketball coach Buzz Williams has surprised a bulk of the Aggie fan base this offseason with increased utilization of the transfer portal, already adding former Nebraska sharpshooter CJ Welcher, former Minnesota forward Pharrel Payne, and now, former SMU veteran guard Zhuric Phelps as of Monday afternoon.

However, Williams apparently isn’t done adding more front-court depth. It has been revealed that USC forward Brandon Gardner, who redshirted during his only season with the Trojans, has included the Aggies, Arizona, Arizona State, NC State, San Francisco, and Jacksonville as potential transfer portal destinations.

As a former four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, Gardner was one of the top players in the New York area during his senior season, averaging 12 points, ten rebounds and two blocks per game in his final year at Christ the King High School, while being named “Mr. Basketball” at the end of the season.

Standing at 6-8 and nearly 220 pounds, Gardner is a highly athletic big who, on paper, looks like the perfect fit in Buzz Williams’ system.

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Former SMU guard Zhuric Phelps has committed to Texas A&M

Former SMU guard Zhuric Phelps is headed to Texas A&M for the 2024-2025 season!

Texas A&M head basketball coach Buzz Williams has surprised a bulk of the Aggie fan base this offseason with increased utilization of the transfer portal, already adding former Nebraska sharpshooter CJ Welcher and former Minnesota forward Pharrel Payne, who averaged 10 points and six rebounds during his final season with the Gophers.

After it was announced last week that Williams would host former SMU guard, Zhuric Phelps, the veteran guard is now headed to College Station for a final collegiate season, committing to the program on Monday afternoon. Phelps joins a loaded Aggies backcourt with Wade Taylor IV and Manny Obaseki returning to the lineup.

Phelps’s skillset is on defense. He is one of the best on-ball defenders in the country and averaged 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and two steals in 2023. However, he only shot 38% from the field and, worse, a career-low 21.6% from beyond the arc.

As one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the country last season, this obviously doesn’t help this issue, but hopefully, Phelps can continue improving his jump shot and become a solid midrange scorer.

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