LOOK: Texas A&M Aggies G Wade Taylor IV Named SEC Preseason Player of the Year

After surprising the college basketball world with a program-record SEC victory total, the Texas A&M Aggies are facing pressure to put up a repeat performance, and Wade Taylor's latest award is proof of that.

Matt Guzman | Oct 17, 2023

In this story:

Texas A&M Aggies

If the AP Ranking hype wasn't enough for the Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball team, SEC media members just gave its fanbase another reason to be excited.

Besides two complete first and second All-Conference teams being released and projected finishes, one player in particular headlined the SEC's basketball release Tuesday. Wade Taylor IV — the Aggies' returning junior guard — was named the Preseason Player of the Year.

And for good reason.

Mar 12, 2023; Nashville, TN, USA; Texas A&M Aggies guard Wade Taylor IV (4) dribbles past Alabama Crimson Tide guard Rylan Griffen (3) during the first half at Bridgestone Arena / © Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

Last season, the Aggies' guard tallied 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals to go along with his impressive 16.3 points per game. Being versatile on defense allowed him to not only crack the rotation, but become a leader by the end of the season — all of which contributed to him being named to the award.

Also in consideration were Alabama’s Grant Nelson, Arkansas’ Trevon Brazile, Mississippi State’s Tolu Smith, Tennessee’s Santiago Vescovi and Auburn’s Johni Broome.

The latter three playmakers all played a large role in their teams' respective games against the Aggies, putting Taylor IV in a group of strong talent, which only increases the pressure facing Texas A&M. Last season, it beat Vescovi and the Volunteers and Broome and the Tigers, but couldn't get the job done against Mississippi State.

A year ago, losing to the Bulldogs stung because it interrupted a six-game conference winning streak that — had it not been for the loss — would have been 11 extending into the SEC tournament. The Aggies surprised everyone.

This season tells a different story, however. After how well the Aggies did, there are no longer any "surprises." Texas A&M has the ranking. It has the talent. It has the schedule. And now, it has the SEC Preseason Player of the Year.

So, the pressure is on. The next step is for the Aggies to prove it on the court.

Published Oct 17, 2023

MATT GUZMAN

Matt Guzman is a sports journalist and storyteller from Austin, Texas. He serves as a credentialed reporter and site manager for San Antonio Spurs On SI and a staff writer for multiple collegiate sites in the same network. In the world of professional sports, he is a firm believer that athletes are people, too, and intends to tell stories of players and teams’ true, behind-the-scenes character that otherwise would not be seen through strong narrative writing, hooking ledes and passionate words.