Texas A&M’s new-look roster already has one of its biggest names getting recognized.
Former Kansas State shooting guard PJ Haggerty was named Thursday to the SEC coaches’ Preseason All-SEC Third Team, giving the Aggies another sign that the buzz around Bucky McMillan’s second season is real. Haggerty joins Malachi Moreno of Kentucky, Tahaad Pettiford of Auburn, David Punch of Texas and Billy Richmond III of Arkansas on the third team.
Texas A&M opens the 2026-2027 season Tuesday, Nov. 3, against Alabama State, and McMillan will do so with the expectations rising after guiding the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament last season. Texas A&M got as far as the Round of 32 before losing to Houston.
The offseason brought a major roster shakeup, with the Aggies losing several key starters, including forward Rashaun Agee. McMillan and his staff responded by landing seven transfer additions, with Haggerty headlining the group. He arrives after averaging nearly 24 points per game last season and has built a reputation as one of the nation’s best slashing guards.
There’s plenty else to like on paper. Mackenzie Mgbako gives Texas A&M another high-end scoring piece, and the frontcourt depth looks far healthier than it did a year ago with Zach Clemence and Jamie Vinson back in the fold. Freshman center Josh Irving also offers a promising inside-out option off the bench.
But the Aggies’ ceiling still hinges on the top end of the roster holding together. Their push for a deep NCAA Tournament run, in a bracket that expands to 76 teams this postseason, will depend heavily on Haggerty and Mgbako staying on the floor. That is especially true for Mgbako, who was limited to just seven games last season after transferring from Indiana.
One more piece matters just as much: Jordan Pope. The Texas transfer point guard needs to stay healthy for 30-plus games if Haggerty is going to get the runway he needs, especially with Texas A&M lacking depth at that spot.
In Other News...
Rylan Griffen Puts Texas A&M's Opening Night Plans In Limbo
Texas A&Ms plans for opening night are still clouded by the uncertainty surrounding Rylan Griffen, whose availability for the 2026-27 season remains unresolved after a preliminary injunction hearing produced no ruling. The issue now appears to hinge on a legal question as much as a basketball one, with the court saying it lacked jurisdiction in the latest step of the case.
Griffen is seeking a fifth year of eligibility after recent NCAA rule changes, but he was excluded because of his class year. For the Aggies, the practical concern is simple: a temporary restraining order that has allowed him to play is set to expire, and if nothing changes before then, his status could shift in a way that leaves Texas A&M waiting on a key piece of its rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Secondary May Not Be The Real Defensive Problem
Texas A&Ms defense has spent the early part of the season looking out of sync, and the easy place to point is the secondary after a few explosive plays showed up in the early losses. But the more troubling issue has been the pass rush, which has produced only seven sacks after the unit carried a much stronger national reputation a year ago. Coach Mike Elko had reason to feel good about the defensive backs entering the season, and the group has still held up in some important ways even as the overall results have been uneven.
The numbers suggest the back end may not be the root of the problem anyway. Texas A&M ranks fifth nationally in catch rate allowed percentage, which helps explain why one standout season from Dezz Ricks has drawn attention as he plays his way into a better NFL Draft conversation. The Aggies still need the defense to function more consistently as a whole, but the evidence so far points to a bigger issue up front than the one most fans noticed first. [Read more 🡒]
Marcel Reed Puts Texas A&Ms Next QB Decision In Focus
Marcel Reed has become the central figure in Texas A&Ms quarterback picture, and not just because of what he has done on the field this season. As a redshirt junior with one year of eligibility left, Reed enters the conversation about the Aggies future at the position with his own plans still undecided, which makes every glimpse of his development matter even more as the program looks ahead.
The uncertainty leaves Texas A&M balancing two realities at once: Reed could still be part of the equation for 2027, but the Aggies also may have to explore the transfer portal for another quarterback if the situation shifts. No decision has been announced either way, so for now the next step at quarterback remains one of the more important questions hanging over the program. [Read more 🡒]