With Texas A&M basketball's 2026-2027 season just over the horizon, the Aggies have been hitting the ground running to prepare for a strong year in the Southeastern Conference. After being chosen to finish among the bottom of the league in 2025, head coach Bucky McMillan 's debut campaign featured a sixth-place finish and a win in the NCAA tournament.

A large reason behind their previous success was thanks to forward Rashaun Agee, a journeyman whose presence was as imposing as it got, as he led the Aggies all the way to the Big Dance and himself to an All-SEC selection. But with his eligibility dried up and McMillan losing his 12th Man, the portal is where they have gone to replace his production.

And what better place to find a replacement than the very conference that has been competing at the highest level?

Enter Cade Phillips, a towering six-foot-nine forward ready to rise to prominence after coming over from Tennessee. But how does he compare to Agee, and what are the Aggies looking for from him?…