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Former Texas A&M basketball forward Pharrel Payne announced Friday afternoon that he's following his former coach Buzz Williams to Maryland. Payne entered the transfer portal Wednesday, a day after Williams took the job with the Terrapins.
Payne played all 34 games last season, averaging 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds while leading the team in field goal percentage and free-throw attempts. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound junior began his career at Minnesota, spending two years there before transferring to Texas A&M. Payne played his best basketball in the NCAA Tournament, recording 25 points and 10 rebounds in a win against Yale, followed by a season-high 26 points and five rebounds during the Aggies' loss to Michigan.
While Payne was the first player to leave College Station for College Park, he likely won't be the last. Aggie forward Solomon Washington entered the transfer portal Thursday and hinted under Payne's Instagram post that he would be joining his former teammate soon.
Even without the transfer news, A&M was expected to have big roles to fill. Eight seniors will soon lose eligibility, including all-time leading scorer Wade Taylor IV. Other Aggies who left for the portal include Andre Mills and Janusz Ratowski. It's not an uncommon trend. Xavier will have to replace several players after nearly a half-dozen entered the transfer portal once head coach Sean Miller took the Texas job.
Texas A&M is still looking for a Williams replacement after Chris Beard announced he's staying with Ole Miss. UConn assistant Luke Murray and High Point coach Alan Huss are some names to keep an eye on as well as Porter Moser, a former Texas A&M assistant coach now with Oklahoma, and Brad Underwood, who's had success with Illinois.
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Maryland basketball, Buzz Williams lands Texas A&M's Pharrel Payne
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Payne played all 34 games last season, averaging 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds while leading the team in field goal percentage and free-throw attempts. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound junior began his career at Minnesota, spending two years there before transferring to Texas A&M. Payne played his best basketball in the NCAA Tournament, recording 25 points and 10 rebounds in a win against Yale, followed by a season-high 26 points and five rebounds during the Aggies' loss to Michigan.
While Payne was the first player to leave College Station for College Park, he likely won't be the last. Aggie forward Solomon Washington entered the transfer portal Thursday and hinted under Payne's Instagram post that he would be joining his former teammate soon.
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Even without the transfer news, A&M was expected to have big roles to fill. Eight seniors will soon lose eligibility, including all-time leading scorer Wade Taylor IV. Other Aggies who left for the portal include Andre Mills and Janusz Ratowski. It's not an uncommon trend. Xavier will have to replace several players after nearly a half-dozen entered the transfer portal once head coach Sean Miller took the Texas job.
Texas A&M is still looking for a Williams replacement after Chris Beard announced he's staying with Ole Miss. UConn assistant Luke Murray and High Point coach Alan Huss are some names to keep an eye on as well as Porter Moser, a former Texas A&M assistant coach now with Oklahoma, and Brad Underwood, who's had success with Illinois.
Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Get access to all of our best content with this tremendous offer
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Maryland basketball, Buzz Williams lands Texas A&M's Pharrel Payne
Continue reading...
