Latest news with #BuzzWilliams
USA Today
18 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Former Texas A&M star guard has complete his pre-draft workout with the Dallas Mavericks
Former Texas A&M star guard has complete his pre-draft workout with the Dallas Mavericks With former Texas A&M basketball head coach Buzz Williams now with the Maryland Terrapins, his legacy in College Station will always include the program's all-time leading scorer, point guard Wade Taylor IV, who set the record during the final regular-season road win over the LSU Tigers just a few months ago. After the Aggies fell to Michigan in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament, all the drama surrounding Williams' flirtation and eventual departure cast a short-term cloud over Taylor's legacy, especially after forwards Pharrel Payne and Solomon Washington followed Williams to Maryland just days after the official announcement. With new head coach Bucky McMillan taking over, Texas A&M basketball is in great shape. Forward Wade Taylor's future in the NBA is coming closer, with the 2025 NBA draft just weeks away. The rumor mill has begun regarding his possible future landing spots. For Aggie fans who are also Dallas Mavericks fans, the Dallas, Texas native reportedly completed his pre-draft evaluation with the Mavericks this week. During his final season with College Station, Taylor averaged 15.7 points per game, three rebounds, and 4.3 assists, while his field goal percentage (35.4%) and 3-point average (31.8%) were less than impressive, especially for NBA teams looking to fill a void at guard. Taylor's strengths include his speed, vision, and on-ball defense. If he improves as a shooter, his lack of size won't be a significant issue; however, it could still hinder his development. For the Mavericks, veteran Kyrie Irving won't be around forever. Entering the draft with the No. 1 overall pick, which will likely be used on Duke star forward Cooper Flagg, Taylor would be a solid depth piece. 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 Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Texas A&M's Andersson Garcia shines in Dominican Republic Basketball League
Wade Taylor isn't the only Texas A&M basketball player exploring the professional basketball circuit. While Taylor attends NBA team workouts and combines, Andersson Garcia is gaining experience in the Dominican Republic National Basketball League. Garcia earned the nickname "Dominican Dennis Rodman" from coach Buzz Williams due to his relentless rebounding and tough defense. The forward became a mainstay in Coach Williams' system and concluded his Aggie career holding several program records: Advertisement Rebounds in a season: 327 Offensive rebounds in a season: 156 Rebounds in conference play: 180 Rebounds by a junior: 327 Offensive rebounds by a junior: 156 Garcia possesses the length and skill to play in the NBA. However, at 6'7", further development will be essential, and he's on the right track while playing overseas with Marineros de Puerto Plata. There, he's averaging a double-double and is a strong contender for Rookie of the Year. Breaking into the NBA and maintaining longevity are among the most challenging feats in sports. But even if Garcia doesn't earn an opportunity at the highest level, his professional basketball career holds immense potential internationally. 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: Texas A&M basketball: Aggie Andersson Garcia shines in pro league
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Maryland athletic director Jim Smith is ready to focus on increasing revenue
FILE - The Maryland state flag and University of Maryland flag are run across the end zone after a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Maryland and Indiana, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams, File) COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Maryland's new athletic director certainly understands the job description in 2025. 'We're going to focus on revenue, because make no mistake about it, to compete with the caliber of schools, not just in the Big Ten but across the country, we must increase our revenues," Jim Smith said while being formally introduced Thursday. "We're going to be trying a few new things — I'm not going to tell anyone any of them today — taking new approaches, applying what I've learned from professional leagues.' Advertisement Maryland hired Smith last week, wrapping up a fairly turbulent couple months for the athletic department. In March, athletic director Damon Evans left for SMU, and around the same time, men's basketball coach Kevin Willard departed to take the Villanova job. The Terps quickly hired Buzz Williams away from Texas A&M to replace Willard. Smith arrives from baseball's Atlanta Braves, where he was the senior vice president of business strategy. He's also been president and CEO of the Ohio State University Alumni Association, and he's held senior executive positions at Arthur M. Blank Sports & Entertainment, in charge of revenue and marketing for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and Major League Soccer's Atlanta United. 'I think you can see his vision is next level, outside the box," Maryland women's basketball coach Brenda Frese said. "It's a unique hire that in these changing times I think is much warrented.' Smith's challenge is to help Maryland compete — both on the field and in the athletic department's coffers — with schools like Michigan and Ohio State. He said when he started with the Falcons they were near the bottom of the NFL in revenue. Advertisement 'If you're committed and you're focused to the goals, you will achieve. That's what we slowly did in Atlanta," Smith said. "There's no silver bullets from going towards the bottom of the Big Ten to the top of the Big Ten, from a revenue (standpoint). But there's a lot of opportunity here.' As college sports enter a new era expected to involve revenue sharing with players, the ability to bring in money can feel like an existential issue. 'I think if you were to say four years ago, this job is different and I'm not the candidate," Smith said. 'I think it's just evolved to the point today where it requires someone who understands how a campus operates and can bring in different experience on how to generate additional revenue.' Maryland has won national titles in both men's and women's basketball in the last quarter-century, and the men's lacrosse team is playing in the Final Four this weekend. But football — and even basketball at times — have struggled to compete for fan attention in an area with plenty of pro teams. Advertisement 'We're going to focus on filling SECU Stadium and Xfinity Center with Terp fans, and we're going to give the best fan experience in the country,' Smith said. Willard complained openly about the level of support he received from the athletic department before he left, and coach Mike Locksley's football team finished 4-8 last season — although he has local quarterback recruit Malik Washington now. 'Coach Locks and I have talked a lot about where we are as a program. I think he feels really good with the recruits that we've brought in," Smith said. "Part of it is our responsibility, to make sure that he's got the funding that's necessary to compete at the level with the other Big Ten programs.' ___ AP college sports:
Associated Press
22-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
New Maryland athletic director Jim Smith is ready to focus on increasing revenue
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Maryland's new athletic director certainly understands the job description in 2025. 'We're going to focus on revenue, because make no mistake about it, to compete with the caliber of schools, not just in the Big Ten but across the country, we must increase our revenues,' Jim Smith said while being formally introduced Thursday. 'We're going to be trying a few new things — I'm not going to tell anyone any of them today — taking new approaches, applying what I've learned from professional leagues.' Maryland hired Smith last week, wrapping up a fairly turbulent couple months for the athletic department. In March, athletic director Damon Evans left for SMU, and around the same time, men's basketball coach Kevin Willard departed to take the Villanova job. The Terps quickly hired Buzz Williams away from Texas A&M to replace Willard. Smith arrives from baseball's Atlanta Braves, where he was the senior vice president of business strategy. He's also been president and CEO of the Ohio State University Alumni Association, and he's held senior executive positions at Arthur M. Blank Sports & Entertainment, in charge of revenue and marketing for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and Major League Soccer's Atlanta United. 'I think you can see his vision is next level, outside the box,' Maryland women's basketball coach Brenda Frese said. 'It's a unique hire that in these changing times I think is much warrented.' Smith's challenge is to help Maryland compete — both on the field and in the athletic department's coffers — with schools like Michigan and Ohio State. He said when he started with the Falcons they were near the bottom of the NFL in revenue. 'If you're committed and you're focused to the goals, you will achieve. That's what we slowly did in Atlanta,' Smith said. 'There's no silver bullets from going towards the bottom of the Big Ten to the top of the Big Ten, from a revenue (standpoint). But there's a lot of opportunity here.' As college sports enter a new era expected to involve revenue sharing with players, the ability to bring in money can feel like an existential issue. 'I think if you were to say four years ago, this job is different and I'm not the candidate,' Smith said. 'I think it's just evolved to the point today where it requires someone who understands how a campus operates and can bring in different experience on how to generate additional revenue.' Maryland has won national titles in both men's and women's basketball in the last quarter-century, and the men's lacrosse team is playing in the Final Four this weekend. But football — and even basketball at times — have struggled to compete for fan attention in an area with plenty of pro teams. 'We're going to focus on filling SECU Stadium and Xfinity Center with Terp fans, and we're going to give the best fan experience in the country,' Smith said. Willard complained openly about the level of support he received from the athletic department before he left, and coach Mike Locksley's football team finished 4-8 last season — although he has local quarterback recruit Malik Washington now. 'Coach Locks and I have talked a lot about where we are as a program. I think he feels really good with the recruits that we've brought in,' Smith said. 'Part of it is our responsibility, to make sure that he's got the funding that's necessary to compete at the level with the other Big Ten programs.' ___ AP college sports:
Washington Post
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Maryland men's basketball signs five-star prospect Darius Adams
The future of the Maryland men's basketball team continued to gain momentum Monday afternoon, when Terrapins Coach Buzz Williams announced the signing of Darius Adams, a McDonald's all-American and one of the most heralded recruits in program history. The 6-foot-5, five-star guard from Manchester, New Jersey, becomes the fourth-highest-rated prospect for the Terps since such rankings began. Adams is rated No. 15 overall in the Class of 2025 by Rivals, No. 18 by On3 and No. 23 by 247Sports. Only Diamond Stone, Derik Queen and Jalen Smith ranked higher than Adams, who spent his final two years of high school at La Lumiere in La Porte, Indiana.
