Texas A&M will have a different look in the backcourt next season, and Jacari Lane won’t be part of it.
Lane, one of the players from Bucky McMillan’s first year in College Station, is heading into the transfer portal after being granted another year of eligibility following a recent ruling. He had originally come to Texas A&M from North Alabama, where he spent three seasons, and planned to use his senior season with the Aggies. Instead, he’ll move on for what would be his fifth and final year of college basketball.
The 6-foot guard from Huntsville, Alabama gave Texas A&M steady minutes off the bench in 33 games, averaging 6.1 points, 1.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 19.4 minutes per contest. He shot 39.5 percent from the field, 30.3 percent from three and 86.8 percent at the line, while also averaging 0.6 steals.
Lane’s game fit the pace of Bucky Ball. He could get downhill, read the floor well and make smart decisions as the defense shifted. There were also stretches where his shot gave the Aggies a needed lift, whether that meant hitting from deep or getting to the free-throw line after drawing contact.
He also had his moments when Texas A&M needed someone to knock down a basket and stop the scoring drought. For a roster that had little shared experience, he provided useful depth and brought a reliable, hard-working presence off the bench.
His best night came on the road against Tennessee, where he scored 20 points. He finished 5-of-11 from the field and made three of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Lane’s departure comes as Texas A&M has already mapped out its guard rotation more clearly. The Aggies added transfers Tyshawn Archie and Jalen Reece, who are expected to take on bigger roles this season, and Bryson Warren is also in the mix at point guard.
With Lane moving on, Mackenzie Mgbako and Zach Clemence will no longer have him available as a bench option, but he leaves behind a role in the foundation of McMillan’s first team.
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