Texas A&M Aggies
Overall Rank: #40
Conference Rank: #9 SEC
Texas A&M has a lot of rebuilding to do. The top four scorers are gone, including Courtney Walker and Courtney Williams, who combined to average 30.9 points per game. Losing Jordan Jones and Chelsea Jennings does not help either. Coach Gary Blair has been down this road before and almost always reloads. The Aggies have been to 11 straight NCAA Tournaments and the Aggies will rebuild enough to make it 12.
2015-16 Record: 22-10, 11-5
2015-16 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Gary Blair
Coach Record: 309-129 at Texas A&M, 717-292 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Courtney Walker, Guard, 18.4 ppg
Courtney Williams, Forward, 12.5 ppg
Jordan Jones, Guard, 7.6 ppg
Chelsea Jennings, Guard, 9.5 ppg
Rachel Mitchell, Center, 3.5 ppg
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Khaalia Hillsman, Junior, Center, 7.3 ppg
Anriel Howard, Sophomore, Forward, 4.6 ppg
Danni Williams, Sophomore, Guard, 3.1 ppg
Jasmine Lumpkin, Junior, Forward, 2.4 ppg
Curtyce Knox, Senior, Guard, 1.6 ppg
Taylor Cooper, Senior, Forward, 1.3 ppg
Key New Players
Aahliyah Jackson, Freshman, Guard
Caylinne Martin, Junior, Forward, Transfer from JC
Rakell Spencer, Freshman, Guard
Jasmine Williams, Freshman, Guard
Walnatia Wright, Junior, Center, Transfer from JC
Projection
Center Khaalia Hillsman is the lone returning starter. The 6-5 junior will be asked to carry a bigger load on both ends of the floor after averaging 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds last year. With Anriel Howard, a 5-11 sophomore, joining Hillsman in the frontcourt, the Aggies should remain strong on the glass. Jasmine Lumpkin and Danni Williams gained some valuable experience last season too, but the Aggies will have to rely on some of their five newcomers. Caylinne Martin and Walnatia Wright are junior college transfers who will add more options in the frontcourt and incoming freshmen Aahliyah Jackson will have to play a pretty big role in the backcourt. As long as somebody can take care of the ball and feed the talented frontcourt, Texas A&M will have no trouble continuing their tournament streak.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 70.4 (65th in nation, 4thd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 61.5 (117, 11)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.1 (30, 4)
Field-Goal Defense: 37.8 (86, 7)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 2.3 (341, 13)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 29.4 (248, 8)
Free-Throw Percentage: 70.7 (136, 5)
Rebound Margin: 3.4 (72, 8)
Assists Per Game: 14.7 (66, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 14.9 (98, 3)
Madness 2016 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#117 Aahliyah Jackson
