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Texas A&M big man to return for junior season
TL;DR
Texas A&M basketball player Jamie Vinson will return for his junior season after transferring from Texas. Despite limited playing time last season, he showed promise during the NCAA tournament, particularly against Houston.
Texas A&M big man Jamie Vinson has decided to stay in Aggieland for his junior season, per Luke Evangelist of TexAgs.
An Austin, Texas native, Vinson began his collegiate career at Texas, where he saw limited action on an overall disappointing Longhorn squad. When head coach Rodney Terry was fired and Texas acquired two big men in the portal, Vinson left for College Station.
Vinson didn’t get much burn during his sophomore season; his 6.7 minutes a night ranked 12th on the team. When the Aggies faced off against a pair of physical teams in the NCAA tournament, however, Vinson’s playing time jumped to 9 and 11 minutes against St. Mary’s and Houston, respectively.
He thrived against Houston, picking up 6 rebounds against a UH side that thrived on the glass. Per Hoop Explorer, Vinson was also the only Aggie to leave a positive defensive impact, and he posted a game-high 1.2 net points generated by defensive rebounds.
While his limited playing time clouds his statistical impact, Vinson played like one of the best defensive big men in the country this season. He ranked top-90 in the country in defensive box impact, top-110 in defensive rebounding influence, and top-150 in defensive RAPM and offensive rebounding influence. Put into English, the Aggies were a significantly better team on defense and on the glass when Vinson was in the game.
The Aggies will lose star small-ball five Rashaun Agee, who has exhausted all five years of eligibility. This leaves Federiko Federiko and incoming freshman Josh Irving as the presumed competition for the starting center spot. While Federiko earned more regular-season playing time and starting nods, Vinson outperformed him in just about every measure, particularly as a defender and rebounder (his block and defensive rebounding rates are nearly double Federiko’s). While Irving is an elite prospect, his 6'11, 200-pound frame pales in comparison to Vinson's 245 pounds at the same height. Irving is also listed as a forward by the Aggies, potentially hinting at a combo-big role that could work alongside Vinson.
Vinson could be primed for a breakout season with a clear pathway to an increased role and another year of experience playing for Bucky McMillan, whose fast-paced offense is perfectly suited for a mobile, high-flying, rim-running big like Vinson.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M F Jamie Vinson to return for junior season
Q&A
Why did Jamie Vinson transfer from Texas to Texas A&M?
Jamie Vinson transferred from Texas to Texas A&M due to limited playing time and the firing of head coach Rodney Terry, which led to the addition of two new big men to the Longhorns' roster.
What were Jamie Vinson's statistics during his sophomore season at Texas A&M?
During his sophomore season, Jamie Vinson averaged 6.7 minutes per game, ranking 12th on the team, but saw increased playing time in the NCAA tournament with 9 and 11 minutes against St. Mary's and Houston.
How did Jamie Vinson perform in the NCAA tournament?
In the NCAA tournament, Jamie Vinson excelled against Houston, recording 6 rebounds and being the only Aggie to have a positive defensive impact, generating a game-high 1.2 net points from defensive rebounds.