Texas A&M Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for Aggies

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - JANUARY 15: Head coach Buzz Williams of the Virginia Tech Hokies watches a play develop in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on January 15, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

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Photo Credit: Christian Petersen – Getty Images /

Despite some defections, the Aggies have some key players returning

As is usually the case with a coaching change, there are a number of players who choose to leave the program when a new coach comes in. For Texas A&M it was no different as they saw six players enter the transfer portal including Gilder who left for Gonzaga. The good news is that the other five players that left weren’t key contributors.

Despite the defections, Williams has five of the top six scorers from last season at his disposal, which is a good thing because no other returning player averaged even one point per game. Junior guard and leading scorer and rebounder Savion Flagg returns, after testing the waters of the NBA draft. The 6-7 Flagg averaged 13.9 points and 7.7 rebounds, he also dished out 2.3 which is second-most on the team.

Fellow guards Wendell Mitchell and Jay Jay Chandler also return, the duo combined for 21 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists last season. The lone forward among the group returning is senior big man Josh Neebo, who stepped into a starting role, and the 6-9 244lb. forward averaged eight points and five rebounds last season. But, by far the biggest return is junior guard TJ Starks, who returns from a separated shoulder after averaging 12 points, two rebounds, three assists, and a steal in the 27 games before his injury.