Heading into his second season at the helm, Texas A&M head basketball coach Bucky McMillan is one of the hottest names in the country after leading his first roster, completely assembled from the transfer portal, all the way to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament before ultimately falling to Houston.
As the final Power 4 head coach hired this time last year, McMillan entered the offseason not just with momentum, but plenty of time to rebuild his 2026-2027 roster, already landing six additions from the transfer portal, combined with several key starters/ reserves, including forward Mackenzie Mgbako, returning after missing all but a handful of games last season.
On the recruiting trail, McMillan and his staff landed their first commitment in the 2027 recruiting class, as four-star shooting guard Chase Richardson chose the Aggies over a handful of blue-blood suitors, and in a recent interview with AggieYell (subscription required) writer Carter Karels, the incoming Friendswood (Texas) senior is excited to play in McMillan’s fast-paced “Bucky Ball” system.
“The main thing was how much flow that they play with and how unselfish the guys were in getting each other open shots,” Richardson stated. “And how many possessions, how much more possessions they get than a lot of programs. How much more shots that they get up with the speed that they play at.”
Primarily recruited by Texas A&M associate head coach Mitch Cole, it’s Richardson’s athleticism that stands out, while his smaller 6’1″ frame won’t be an issue in McMillan’s system after watching the rising junior average 18.3 points, 5.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.7 steals per game last season.
According to Karels, Richardson reportedly looks up to former NBA guards Steve Nash and Jason Williams as inspirations, which is evident in his game, especially his ability to push the ball and finish at the rim. Richardson’s energy and passion for the game are very similar to those of former Texas A&M standout guard Alex Caruso, who still holds several program records.
Looking to visit College Station as much as possible before signing with Texas A&M, it’s clear that both sides are on very good terms after Richardson’s commitment, further praising McMillan’s honesty and steadfast approach to building the program through recruiting and strong relationships.
“I love coach Bucky,” Richardson stated. “I love his system. I really think he’s just a great coach, a winning coach who’s been winning wherever he’s been. So I think it’s a really great program that’s on the rise.”
According to Rivals, Richardson is currently positioned as the 94th-ranked prospect in the 2027 class, the 23rd-ranked point guard, and the 5th-ranked prospect in Texas.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: 2027 4-star star point guard explains why he committed to Texas A&M
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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