Latest news with #BuckyMcMillan
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Aggie fans and media react to Mackenzie Mgbako withdrawing his name from the NBA draft
Texas A&M basketball fans had an exciting Tuesday morning as news broke that star transfer forward Mackenzie Mgbako has withdrawn his name from the NBA Draft and will be returning to Bryan-College Station to kick off the upcoming season of "Bucky Ball." The 6'8" forward was the talk of the NBA Draft Combine, showcasing elite range from beyond the arc and solid defensive skills. His standout performance at the G-League Elite Camp earned him an invitation to the 2025 NBA Draft Combine, where he turned heads and was seriously considered for the draft. However, confirmation arrived that Mgbako has opted to rejoin the Texas A&M Aggies, forgoing the 2025 NBA Draft to enhance his stock further. Advertisement According to ESPN, Mgbako was the second-ranked player in the 2023 class. His decision to enter the transfer portal after two seasons at Indiana came as a surprise to many, especially given his notable improvement. Last season, he averaged 12.2 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 43% from the field, 32% from three-point range, and 81% from the free-throw line. Below you can find fans' and media's reaction to the news. Mackenzie Mgbako deciding to stay is big for the Aggies Big news for coach Bucky McMillan Mgbako believe we can improve his draft stock with one college season Boom! Coach Bucky has done good work in a short amount of time After having only one player on the roster, the Aggies now have a solid squad for next season with a few spots left Him coming back could bring NBA scouts to Aggieland as well Aggie fans can't wait to watch Mgbako in the Bucky Ball system On top of Mackenzie Mgbako's announcement they landed Pop Isaacs Not a bad haul in limited time 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 Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1. This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Social Media reacts to Mackenzie Mgbako withdrawing from the NBA draft
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas A&M HC Bucky McMillan adds a former Samford assistant coach to his 2025 staff
Texas A&M HC Bucky McMillan adds a former Samford assistant coach to his 2025 staff Texas A&M basketball coach Bucky McMillan continues to bolster his staff for the 2025 season. On Friday afternoon, it was announced that the former Samford assistant coach, Neb Exantus, will be joining him in Bryan-College Station. Before joining Coach McMillan's staff in 2020, Exantus coached at West Oaks Academy in Orlando, Florida, where he established a strong presence in the AAU scene with top-tier programs like the Showtime Ballers and Team Breakdown. He has a good eye for talent and excels at developing young players. Exantus spent four seasons as an assistant coach under coach McMillan after spending a single season at his alma mater, Southern New Hampshire University. At Texas A&M, he will serve as the Aggies' Director of Player Development and Personnel, a role in which he is expected to make a significant impact on the basketball program. Below is the announcement from the official Texas A&M basketball X account. 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 Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas A&M HC Bucky McMillan has hired his new Strength & Conditioning coach
Texas A&M HC Bucky McMillan has hired his new Strength & Conditioning coach The Rich family is excited to be back! 👍💪🏀 — Darby Rich (@CoachDarby_Rich) May 28, 2025 New Texas A&M head coach Bucky McMillan has all but finished putting together is 2025 coaching staff, which now includes longtime strength & conditioning coach Darby Rich, who returns to College Station after serving under former head coach Billy Kennedy for eight seasons. After stints with Memphis, Texas Tech, and the Texas Longhorns, Rich is back with the Aggies and will work with one of the most talented rosters Texas A&M has had under the previous two head coaches. During his 28 years of coaching experience, including last season with the Longhorns, Rich has been a part of nearly a dozen NCAA Tournament teams, while helping to develop Texas freshman guard Tre Johnson, who is expected to be selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. For those unaware, every S&C coaches in college basketball are nearly as important as the head coach in terms of getting players in shape, ranging from strength training to endurance, especially in McMillan's intense system that relies on speed and offensive efficiency, meaning practice reps are vital to get accustomed to what McMillan will expect once the 2025 season begins. Texas A&M's 2025 staff now includes Associate Head Coach Mitch Cole, Assistant Coaches Kyle Keller, TJ Cleveland, and Frank Haith, Director of Operations | Assistant General Manager Warren Fitzpatrick, and, of course, S&C Darby Rich. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas A&M's top transfer addition has opted to play for the Aggies in 2025
Texas A&M's top transfer addition has opted to play for the Aggies in 2025 On Tuesday morning, new Texas A&M head coach Bucky McMillan received significant news regarding his 2025 roster, the first during his tenure with the program after being hired last month. After landing a commitment from Indiana sophomore Mackenzie Mgbako, the former five-star prospect was invited to the 2025 NBA Combine to impress scouts this month. While this scared Aggie fans who felt he might be as good as gone after performing well during the handful of scrimmages over the last two weeks, it was reported by several Texas A&M sources that Mgbako was inching towards playing for the Aggies in 2025 before ultimately departing for the NBA draft. On the court, Mgbako's elite skill set is still being refined, making him a potential mid-to-late first-round pick next summer. Needing to make his decision by May 28, it was revealed early Tuesday morning that Mgbako will play for Texas A&M and head coach Bucky McMillan next season, joining seven other transfer portal additions who should jolt an A&M offense that will look drastically different in 2025 compared to what the fan base was used to under former head coach Buzz Williams. During his last two seasons at Indiana, Mgbako averaged 12.2 points per game while shooting 44% from the field last season. During his G-League/NBA Combine scrimmages, the New Jersey native showed improvement from beyond the arc, which is a great sign heading into his first season with Texas A&M. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
How Coach Bucky McMillan's 'Bucky Ball' influenced this intriguing transfer class
How Coach Bucky McMillan's 'Bucky Ball' influenced this intriguing transfer class If there is one word to describe Coach Bucky McMillan's basketball system, it's "Aggressive." Texas A&M basketball is going to look drastically different than the last half-decade, and after all the jokes about only having one player on the roster, the team is finally filling out with players that fit the "Bucky Ball" way. His team will shoot many three-pointers and play smothering full-court defense. To achieve this, he had to scour the rapidly decreasing talent in the transfer portal, and he emerged with a solid haul. The top player in the transfer class is former Indiana Hoosiers forward Mackenzie Mgbako, who comes to Aggieland as the highest-rated prospect in team history. However, Mgbako has been one of the top players during the NBA Combine process, and will wait until May 28 to announce if he will play for Texas A&M next year, or depart for the NBA. Several other intriguing transfers have committed, and it is clear Coach Bucky wants a specific type of athlete on the court. Below are key stats for the newest additions. Player 3pt % FT % Jacari Lane - PG 40 79 Zach Clemence - PF 0 60 Mackenzie Mgbako - PF 32 81 Josh Holloway - SG 27 59 Fede Federiko - PF 0 49 Jamie Vinson - C 100 0 Marcus Hill - SG 20 75 Rylan Griffen - SF 34 68 Rashaun Agee - F 39 74 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 Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
