Texas A&M's 2026-2027 basketball roster is poised to be coach Bucky McMillan's most talented group heading into his second season at the helm, after landing seven transfer portal players, led by former Kansas State star shooting guard PJ Haggerty, who averaged nearly 24 points per game last season.
With transfer forward Jalen Shelley and guards Jalen Reece and Tyshawn Archie, McMillan isn't lacking perimeter playmakers, while replacing forward Rashaun Agee, who led the Aggies in scoring and rebounds last season, falls to former McDonald's All-American and Indiana forward Mackenzie Mgbako.
During his first season in College Station, Mgbako was lost for the year just seven games into the non-conference schedule, but after announcing his return, he worked hard in the offseason to gain strength and regain his NBA-level shooting and bully-like mentality in the paint.
Joining PJ Haggerty and Bucky McMillan, Mgbako was the second team representative at Wednesday's SEC Media Days. Among the 17 players on the roster, Aggie fans, and especially Bucky McMillan, don't miss Mgbako's importance to the team's success this season as it looks to return to the NCAA Tournament, and McMillan heaped even more praise on his senior forward.
"This guy is really going to be a great player in this league if he stays healthy. He's stronger, can shoot it, leading us in rebounds. He's a special player and a special dude. He came to Texas A&M without knowing us, but he saw our plan for him, and he deserves to have a great year."
If, and that's a big if, Mackenzie Mgbako can stay healthy for most of the year, barring some rest games late in the year, Bucky McMillan's fast-paced and aggressive scheme should result in a trip back to the NCAA Tournament, and possibly making it out of the second round for the first time since the 2018 season.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: 'He's a special player': Bucky McMillan heaps praise on senior forward