Tag: Wade Taylor IV

Texas A&M G Wade Taylor IV receives invite to Damian Lillard’s Formula Zero Elite Camp

Texas A&M guard Wade Taylor IV was recently named a college counselor for the 2023 Formula Zero Elite Camp, an organization led by seven-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard.

One of Texas A&M’s men’s basketball leaders has received a prestigious invite from a seven-time NBA All-Star.

Last week, it was announced that Aggie men’s basketball guard Wade Taylor IV had been named a college counselor for the 2023 Formula Zero Elite Camp, which sends just 20 total collegiate invites across the country. Formula Zero is an organization led by Portland Trail Blazers All-Star Damian Lillard, focusing on helping individuals grow both on & off the court.

Formed in tandem with Boise State men’s basketball coach Phil Beckner, the community exists to help mold basketball players in their pursuit of being their true, authentic selves with a passion for making real change. Beckner is a highly-regarded player developer, having worked closely with Lillard while at Weber State and preparing him to be the sixth overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Receiving an invite is of the utmost privilege and speaks to how Taylor embodies the principles of Texas A&M, both on and off the court. The incoming junior guard is coming off a highly-successful season, averaging 16.3 points, 3.9 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in 28.7 minutes per game of action.

After helping lead the Aggies to a 25-10 record (15-3 SEC), Taylor was named to both the 2023 SEC All-Tournament Team and 2023 All-SEC First Team, as well as being honored as a unanimous First-Team AP All-American.

Now as he steps into his third year in Aggieland, Taylor will be called upon as a veteran leader to help this team reach its full potential. Texas A&M has already been positioned in many preseason top 25 rankings, and as head coach Buzz Williams recently echoed, the expectation for this team is both an SEC title and a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Taylor will nonetheless be at the forefront of helping the Aggies reach those pursuits.

The Formula Zero Elite Camp will run in Phoenix, Arizona, from Aug. 16 to Aug. 19. Taylor will be joined by 19 other top college counselors and 20 of the top high school players in the country.

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Texas A&M Basketball leads the SEC in returning scoring production ahead of the 2023-2024 CBB season

Texas A&M Basketball is the leader in returning scoring production ahead of the 2023-2024 college basketball season.

As the 2023 Texas A&M Football season is nearly a month away, remember that the Aggies 2023-2024 men’s basketball season is set to start on Nov. 6 against Texas A&M-Commerce in Reed Arena and that this may be the best team Head Coach Buzz Williams will lead in his fifth season with the program.

Coming off of their 25-10 (15-3 SEC) campaign, which included their second consecutive trip to the SEC Tournament Title Game, leading to their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since the 2017 season, sadly resulting in a loss to Penn State in the First Round, significant strides were made last season despite the abrupt postseason exit.

Amid a successful offseason so far, Texas A&M will return four out of five starters, and according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, the Aggies lead the SEC in returning scoring percentage at 88.4%. Directed by the dynamic backcourt of All-SEC guard Wade Taylor IV and steadfast senior guard Tyrece “Boots” Radford, combined with borderline elite starting frontcourt led by Henry Coleman III and Julius Marble, bringing more experience than nearly every other team in the conference.

Needing to add more depth and a potential replacement for Dexter Dennis, Williams and his staff utilized the transfer portal, adding guards Jace Carter and Eli Lawrence, with their most recent addition coming in the form of center Wildens Leveque, representing the final piece of the puzzle in the frontcourt behind Coleman, Marble, and Andersson Garcia.

Back in late June, A&M’s high expectations for next season were mirrored in CBS Sports’ most recent preseason college basketball rankings, placing Texas A&M at No. 15 in the country.

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.

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Texas A&M’s backcourt has the potential to reach elite territory in 2023

With the news that guard Tyrece Radford will return for the 2023 campaign, Texas A&M’s backcourt is the deepest rotation in the SEC.

The Texas A&M Basketball program could not be in better hands than under head coach Buzz Williams, who, after leading the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament last season, is just scratching the surface of what he and a loaded roster can accomplish in 2023.

With news that star point guard Tyrece Radford will return for his final collegiate season with the Maroon and White, Texas A&M’s backcourt led by All-SEC guard Wade Taylor IV, including transfer additions in guards Jace Carter and Eli Lawrence solidifies this group as one the deepest, and most talented rotations in the SEC, and the country.

On Thursday, SEC college basketball analyst Patric Young made an appearance on TexAgs Radio to discuss the impact of Radford’s return, noting his leadership, high basketball IQ and slashing ability in the paint while confidently placing similar high expectations on A&M’s chances to compete for an SEC Title that we usually hear when discussing Kentucky, Alabama, and Tennessee.

Radford scored second on the team last season with 13.3 ppg, including 5.3 rebounds, while shooting 79.6% from the free-throw line. Entering his all-important junior season, Wade Taylor IV broke out in 2022, leading the Aggies with 16.3 ppg, 3.9 assists while shooting an incredible 87.8% from the stripe, as he and Radford were by the most consistent guard duo down the stretch.

Add in former Illinois-Chicago guard Jace Carter, who averaged 13.1 ppg and 6.4 rebounds for the Flames last season. In addition, former Middle Tennesse State guard Eli Lawrence, who shot 40% from the field and averaged 9.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in 2022, Buzz Williams is flushed with dependable scoring options, while 2023 four-star combo guard Bryce Lindsay will make his way to College Station this summer to provide an instant 3-point shooting threat hopefully.

With four out of five starters officially returning for the 2023 season, here’s what the depth chart should look like in its early stages:

  • Point guard: Wade Taylor IV, Andre Gordon
  • Shooting guard: Tyrece Radford, Manny Obaseki, Jace Carter
  • Small Forward: Eli Lawrence, Jace Carter, Hayden Hefner
  • Power forward: Henry Coleman III, Andersson Garcia
  • Center: Julius Marble, Solomon Washington

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.

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Where did the Aggies land in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 men’s college basketball rankings?

After the 2023 NCAA Tournament ended on Monday night, ESPN predicted their Top 25 for next season, and the Aggies made the cut.

Texas A&M’s 2023 college basketball season ended on a low note after falling to Penn State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, but after ending the campaign with a 25-10 record, 15-3 mark in conference play, and a second consecutive appearance in the SEC Title Game, buy as much Maroon and White stock as you can ahead of head coach Buzz Williams’ fifth season with the program.

Even better news, only one starter (Dexter Dennis) is set to depart while four starters are expected to return including the frontcourt duo of Henry Coleman and Julius Marble, while the backcourt led by All-SEC guard Wade Taylor IV hopes to run it back with his counterpart Tyrece “Boots” Radford, who is still in the process of making his decision.

Combined with a solid bench led by forwards Solomon Washington and Andersson Garcia, The Aggies hope to add a couple of pieces through the transfer portal to compete at the highest level next season, leading to their inclusion in ESPN’s “Way-Too-Early” Top 25 rankings, where the Aggies unsurprisingly landed at No. 17. Authored by ESPN writer Jeff Borzello, here is what he had to say about Texas A&M’s potential roster makeup going into next season:

Buzz Williams’ team won 19 of 22 games before losing in the SEC championship game and then in the first round of the NCAA tournament. And he’s expected to bring back several key pieces from that group. The most important is Wade Taylor IV, one of the best point guards in the country. Henry Coleman and Julius Marble should form a very solid frontcourt tandem, and several role players are also expected back.

While the defending National Champion UConn Huskies look to repeat with yet another stacked roster, the Aggies should have a starting unit good enough for a Top 10 placement in the rankings, but this is just the beginning of what should be a very eventful offseason for the Maroon and White ahead of the 2023 campaign. Oh, and the Texas Longhorns clocked in a spot lower at No. 18, so there’s that. Gig ’em.

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

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Dexter Dennis, Tyrece Radford, and Wade Taylor IV speak for the final time ahead of Texas A&M’s opening round March Madness matchup vs. Penn State

Hear what Dexter Dennis, Tyrece Radford, and Wade Taylor IV said before Thursday’s opening-round matchup vs. Penn State in the NCAA Tournament

The seven-seeded Texas A&M Aggies (26-9, 15-3 SEC) are just one sleep away from their late-night opening-round showdown vs. the 10-seed Penn State Nittany Lions on Thursday night, coming into the game with a confident mindset in their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018, and first under Head coach Buzz Williams in his fourth season with the program.

Both programs finished the regular season on a high note, as Penn State has won 8 out of their last 10, while the Aggies notched 10 out of their last 12, both losing in their conference tournament final on Sunday afternoon. Underseeded as all get out, Texas A&M knows that focusing on the task at hand and staying true to their play style is the only way to way to move on in the Tournament, facing a Nittany Lions offense that shoots nearly 40% from deep, and led by Jalen Pickett (17.9 PPG), Seth Lundy (14.4 PPG), and Andrew Funk (12.1 PPG), defense on the perimeter is an absolute must from start to finish.

A day before the game, Dexter Dennis, Tyrece “Boots” Radford, and Wade Taylor IV spoke to the media to give their final scouting report on Penn State, and the importance of living in the moment during one of the most magical times of the sports calendar. Here’s what all three had to say for the final time ahead of the game.

Texas A&M vs. Penn State will be held at Well Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, and is slated for Thursday, March 16th at 8:55 PM CT and will air on TBS.

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

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How to watch Alabama vs. Texas A&M in SEC Tournament Championship

Here is how you can catch all the incredible action from Nashville as Alabama takes on Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament Championship! 

Championship Sunday has arrived in Nashville as the top two seeds from the SEC will compete for the 2023 SEC Tournament Championship.

The Alabama Crimson Tide and the Texas A&M Aggies are set to hit the hardwood today to see who can cut down the nets at Bridgestone Arena and leave Nashville as champs of the SEC.

The Aggies got the best of the Crimson Tide in their lone matchup of the regular season in College Station, defeating Alabama 67-61 to close out the regular season last Saturday.

Alabama’s Brandon Miller has been sensational throughout the SEC Tournament averaging 19 points and is an impressive 7-15 from three.

The Aggies are being led by their incredible point guard Wade Taylor IV who just dropped 24 points against Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Here is how you can catch all the action from Nashville as Alabama takes on Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament Championship!

SEC Post Game Press Conference: Buzz Williams, Wade Taylor IV, Julius Marble

Hear what Head coach Buzz Williams, Wade Taylor IV, and Julius Marble had to say after Texas A&M’s 87-75 SEC Semifinal win, heading into the SEC Championship game against Alabama on Sunday afternoon

Texas A&M (25-8, 15-3 SEC) is headed back to their second straight SEC Championship game after defeating the Vanderbilt Commodores 87-75 in the Semifinals on Saturday afternoon.

Texas A&M led by a whopping 24 points at halftime, shooting over 70% from the field at one point in a game where the Aggies did not trail for a single minute, and even though the Commodores waged a substantial comeback to outscore A&M 50-38 in the second half, sophomore guard Wade Taylor IV’s 19 second half points sealed the victory to face the 1-seed Alabama Crimson Tide in what should be a highly entertaining rematch.

Wade Taylor led the game with 25 points, including 4-7 from three, while Julius Marble (13 points) and Tyrece “Boots” Radford (16 points) provided enough offense to curb any late Vanderbilt run. Statistically, the Aggies shot an incredible 59.6% from the field, 52% from 3-point, and 60% from the charity stripe, and recorded 30 rebounds and 20 assists on the day.

After Alabama defeated Missouri in the earlier matchup, the Aggies will look to stay undefeated against the Crimson Tide, winning their memorable season finale 67-61 on March 4. After the game, Head coach Buzz Williams, Wade Taylor IV, and Julius Marble spoke to the media to reflect on the huge semifinal win, while a quick turnaround in the SEC Championship on Sunday afternoon will take up the rest of their entire focus for the remainder of the night. Here is what all three had to say.

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

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PHOTOS: Texas A&M defeats Vanderbilt 87-75 in the SEC Semifinals

Here are the best images from Texas A&M’s 87-75 SEC Semifinal victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday afternoon

Texas A&M (25-8, 15-3 SEC) is headed back to their second straight SEC Championship game after defeating the Vanderbilt Commodores 87-75 in the Semifinals on Saturday afternoon.

Texas A&M led by a whopping 24 points at halftime, shooting over 70% from the field at one point in a game where the Aggies did not trail for a single minute, and even though the Commodores waged a substantial comeback to outscore A&M 50-38 in the second half, sophomore guard Wade Taylor IV’s 19 second half points sealed the victory to face the 1-seed Alabama Crimson Tide in what should be a highly entertaining rematch.

Wade Taylor led the game with 25 points, including 4-7 from three, while Julius Marble (13 points) and Tyrece “Boots” Radford (16 points) provided enough offense to curb any late Vanderbilt run. Statistically, the Aggies shot an incredible 59.6% from the field, 52% from 3-point, and 60% from the charity stripe, and recorded 30 rebounds and 20 assists on the day.

After Alabama defeated Missouri in the earlier matchup, the Aggies will look to stay undefeated against the Crimson Tide, winning their memorable season finale 67-61 on March 4. After the game, USA TODAY Sports provided some of the best images from the matchup, so please, enjoy the huge win all over again through our photo gallery!

Texas A&M reaches SEC Championship following 87-75 win over Vanderbilt, Wade Taylor IV leads with 25 points

The Aggies are back in the 2023 SEC Championship game after eliminating Vanderbilt 87-75 in the semifinals

An unforgettable season needs its storybook ending, and Texas A&M (25-8, 15-3 SEC) will get the chance to put a bow on their miraculous turnaround come Sunday in the SEC Championship.

The Aggies officially punched their ticket back to the title game by besting Vanderbilt in the semifinals on Saturday. After a smothering defensive performance in the first 20 minutes, A&M put together a collective effort to fend off a Commodores rally and extend their season by one more day.

It was a flip of the script compared to last night’s matchup as the Aggies got off to a terrific start within the first five minutes. A&M jumped to an early 16-5 lead with Julius Marble enforcing his will in the paint and some sweet shooting by Tyrece Radford.

Radford had the hot hand early on, tallying 5 points on 2-for-3 shooting from the floor.

Radford’s hot hand proved to be contagious for the rest of the Aggies roster as they combined for an absurd 71.4% shooting from the floor in the first period. After not being able to buy a bucket from deep last night, A&M responded with seven made threes from beyond the arc.

As beautiful as it was to see the offensive efficiency on display, defense is what helped spearhead the Aggies’ turnaround in SEC regular season play, and they flexed their strength once again on Saturday. With endless back-to-back defensive stops, the Commodores did not hit the double-digit scoring mark until 9:20 left in the first half.

A&M forced 11 turnovers from Vanderbilt in the first half, including an impressive three shot-clock violations. The Aggies returned the favor with 11 points scored off those takeaways.

Take this for data: the Aggies forced more turnovers (12) on Vanderbilt than the Commodores had made shots (10). That translates to a display of absolutely smothering defense by A&M.

Texas A&M leaders at the half: Tyrece Radford (11 points, 3 assists), and Julius Marble (10 points, 2 rebounds). Team: 71.4% from the field. 58.3% (7-12) from 3-point, 2-3 from the free throw line, and 15 rebounds.

Vanderbilt leaders at the half: Colin Smith (9 points, 3-4 three-pointers), and Ezra Manjon (4 points, 2-4 field goals). Team: 41.7% from the field. 33.3% (4-12) from 3-point, 1-3 from the free throw line, and 9 rebounds.

HALFTIME: Texas A&M: 49, Vanderbilt: 25

It was no secret that the Commodores had to come out with more intensity and pressure after that first-half performance, and they took it upon themselves to begin the second period. Vanderbilt came out the gate with an early 12-1 run to make things a bit more interesting with the Aggies.

Jordan Wright made his presence felt quickly at the start of the second half, tallying 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting with five assists. Jerry Stackhouse communicated to his team that the goal was to cut the Commodores’ deficit to 10 points by the 10-minute mark of the second period.

To all the Aggies fans that were sweating it out down the stretch, Wade Taylor IV told everyone to “relax.” The SEC’s best point guard fended off the Commodore’s run with a sweet floater off the glass and an ensuing three-point shot one possession later to bring his scoring total to 17.

From there on out it was the Wade Taylor IV show as the sophomore guard helped fend off a fierce Commodores rally that came down to the final few minutes. Despite a late 8-0 run by Vanderbilt to cut the lead to 11, Dexter Dennis converted a big mid-range jumper to all but ensure a trip back to the SEC Championship.

After scoring just nine points in the first half, Taylor tallied 16 points in the second period to lead Texas A&M to an 87-75 win over Vanderbilt, setting up a rematch with the Crimson Tide for the conference title.

It’s officially Round 2 between the Aggies and the Crimson Tide on Sunday. Alabama may have a top-tier talent in Brandon Miller, but Texas A&M has the best point guard in the SEC in Wade Taylor IV who is playing as well as anyone in the country.

It’s the No. 1 seed versus the No. 2 seed with a chance for the Aggies to reclaim what slipped through their hands a year ago. Buckle up because you can’t write it any better than this.

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 Pete on Twitter: @PeteThreee

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SEC Post Game Press Conference: Buzz Williams, Henry Coleman III, Wade Taylor IV

Hear what Head coach Buzz Williams, Henry Coleman III, and Wade Taylor IV had to say after the Aggies defeated Arkansas 67-61 in the SEC Quarterfinals

The 18th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies (24-8, 15-3 SEC) pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in SEC Tournament history on Friday night, coming back from a 13-point deficit against the Arkansas Razorbacks (20-10, 8-10 SEC) to defeat the Hogs 67-61 for the second time this season.

The Aggies outscored the Razorbacks 42-23 in the second half and were of course led by star guard Wade Taylor IV with 18 points to lead all scorers, which included a 6-6 showing from the free throw line. Henry Coleman III was a huge part of the team’s second-half run, recording a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double, while both Tyrece Radford and Dexter Dennis netted 11 points each in yet another complete team effort from the maroon and white. Ranking third in the country in free throw rate at 25.4 attempts per game, the Aggies hit 18 of their 24 (75%) attempts from the stripe, putting the game away as their offense stalled late in the second half.

The Aggies will now face the red-hot Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday afternoon in the semifinal matchup of the SEC Tournament, which will air at 2:00 p.m. CT on ESPN. After the game, Head coach Buzz Williams, Henry Coleman III, and Wade Taylor IV spoke to the media to discuss the win, as their quick turnaround to face the Commodores will be quite the challenge, to say the least. Here is what all three had to say after the victory.

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

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