Texas A&M Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Aggies

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 18: Admon Gilder #3 of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts after a three point shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 18, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Harry How/Getty Images /

Projected starters

The Aggies return senior guard Admon Gilder and sophomore T.J. Starks are their primary guards. Gilder started in 29 of 30 games he appeared in, averaging 12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 39.5 percent from behind the arc. As the senior leader, he should emerge as their biggest threat from the 3-point line.

Starks started in just 15 games in 2017-18, but they came in the final 15 games of the regular season. As a freshman, he put up 9.9 points, 2.3 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game.

With so many guards, Kennedy will utilize a four-guard rotation which should allow them to play at a quicker pace. There are two junior college transfers to keep an eye on in that regard: Wendell Mitchell and Brandon Mahan. Mitchell was a top-rated recruit that produced 19.8 points per game at Trinity Valley Community College last season. Mahan put up 14.1 points per game on 50.3 percent shooting from behind the arc at Chipola College in 2017-18.

On the interior, graduate transfer Christian Mekowulu or St. Francis (PA) transfer Josh Nebo could be the force they need. Mekowulu won Defensive Player of the Year in the Ohio Valley Conference last year. Nebo won Defensive Player of the Year in the Northeast Conference while at St. Francis in 2016-17, setting a school record with 89 blocks. Given what these two bring, their defense shouldn’t be an issue on the inside.