Texas A&M coach Bucky McMillan is set to enter his second season at the helm after leading the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament in surprising fashion after having to build his first roster completely from the transfer portal, led by transfer forward Mackenzie Mgbako, who was poised to lead the Aggies in several categories before his foot injury prematurely ended the former McDonald’s All-American’s first season in College Station.
After playing in just seven non-conference games, Mgbako announced his return during the Aggies’ NCAA Tournament run and has slowly but surely made his way back to practice this summer. Speaking to the media on Monday, Mgbako revealed that he is 100% healthy and returned to full practice last week, while detailing his journey back to the court ahead of what should be an exciting season after McMillan landed seven players from the transfer portal.
While Kansas State transfer guard PJ Haggerty is widely considered the best player on the Aggies’ roster, Mgbako’s NBA potential hasn’t waned, while his size and mid-range shooting were sorely missed last season, no matter how well senior forward Rashaun Agee played.
“It taught me patience and to lean into my support system. My team helped me get through that tough time. Injuries aren’t easy, but to have the support from the coaches and the team, it meant a lot to me. I wanted to be out there and hoop. The team did really well, making the tournament and finishing 4th in the SEC, and we’re trying to improve on that this year.”
Whenever a player sustains a serious injury, sitting on the bench can result in mixed emotions, but throughout the 2025-2026 season, Mgbako continued to support his teammates and is fully bought into Bucky McMillan’s philosophy, knowing that he will reach his elite potential playing with one of the most talented rosters in Texas A&M history.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M star forward discusses his emotional return back from injury
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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By Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire | USA TODAY Network
