Entering his second season, Texas A&M coach Bucky McMillan has slowly but surely built one of the ascending programs in the country after leading the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament during his inaugural campaign, which was a shock to many after having to build his entire roster from the transfer portal.
Led by senior forward Rashaun Agee, Texas A&M’s veteran roster had its ups and downs, but ended the regular season with an impressive 11 wins in SEC play, earning a 7-seed in the tournament, and defeating Saint Mary’s dominantly before falling to Houston in the Round of 32.
This offseason, after losing half of the 2025-2026 roster, Bucky McMillan and his staff quickly went to work in the transfer portal, adding seven players, including former Tennessee forward Cade Phillips, who spoke to the media after Tuesday’s practice to discuss his transition to College Station.
Needing starting-level depth in the front court, Phillips has already established himself as one of the best defenders in the SEC, and while his 3.8 points per game and four rebounds don’t jump off the page, his potential is through the roof, especially in McMillan’s fast-paced system, which requires a player of Phillips’ caliber to play with a physical edge from start to finish.
Texas A&M’s strong and attractive winning culture dedicated to developing is also noteworthy, while Phillips, who is also a Birmingham, Alabama native, also stood out in the portal.
“Being from the Birmingham area instantly drew me here at the beginning of this process because of Bucky. Getting to see the culture he’s starting here and the momentum this program is gaining, it was hard to say no.”
Phillips also stated that the 2026-2027 roster’s mindset and overall mission this season is to “win the next basketball game” and never look ahead, knowing that the SEC gauntlet is unforgiving once conference play begins.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Former Tennessee forward explains why he transferred to Texas A&M
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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By Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire | USA TODAY Network
